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VOL. 3. RALEIGH, I. C, DECEMBER, 1854. NO. 9.
JOHN F. TOMPKINS, M. D., Editor.
• From the American Farmer.
AN ESSAY
On the Culture and Management of Tobacco-,
by w. w. w. BOWIE,
Of Prince George County, Mel.
In the preparation of this Essay, the author
admits frankly that lie has ava led himself of
the expei i'-nce of many successful Planters,
whose practice and example he had endeavored
for years to follow; and he has also availed him-self
of much of the matter in his former Essays
on this subject, having seen since they were
written, nothing to change his views therein ex-
; pressed in regard to the culture of this great
.'staple of Maryland. And he would state mere-
'ly by way of giving foice and character to his
Suggestions, that it is well known in the com.
nnmity in which he lives, that from his boyhood
lie has been familiar with the growing and gen-
.eral management of Tobacco; and for fifteen
years part has himself extensively cultivated it.
With these preliminary remarks he will endeav-or
to give a plain, succinct and intelligible ac-count
of that culture and management of To-bacco
which he deems the best system for plan-ners
to pursue, keeping in view successively the
points desired to be touched upon, as set forth
in the terms of the liberal offer of Mr. Jose Joa-chim
DeArietta, in the American Farmer for Sep-tember,
1853.
1st. and 2d.—How to raise the best seed.
—
What, if any, preparation is to be subjected to?
The earliest and largest plants should be se-lected
for seed. One hundred plants will give
over a peck of seed. T\v : ce as many should be
turned out as may be needed, so that after they
are in full flower or bloom, the plants of the
whole may be chosen and the rest broken off.
If the grower wishes to raise fine, light, yellow
tobacco, he ought to select plants that grow-quick,
with leaves small stemmed and far apart
in the stalk, such as the "Pear Tree" Tobacco.
If he wishes to raise heavy crops to the acre
and most of it curing a fine red, he should se-lect
such plants as are broad and long leaved
set close together on the stalk with large stems
and thick leaf, such as the " Wilson " or the
"Broad-leaf Thick-set" or like kinds. These
tobaccoes, if ripe, will cure a pretty red and sal-mon-
color, and in the sample will be like kid
pliant and glossy, smooth and soft to the touch
if properly managed. After the seed pods have
fully developed themselves it should be pruned
and then when the pods have turned brown and
begin to open, each head should be cut off and
hung up to dry under cover until it can be rub-bed
out; then pass it through a fine seive so as
to get the seed clean, and it requires no further
preparation. The seed should be kept perfectly
dry. By pruning, is meant the lopping off all
the small, defective or indifferent pods thai are
258 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
found on the head, leaving only a sufficient
number of wt-11 formed, large pods to mature,
so that ihe whole strength of the plant may he
concentrated in perfecting them alone.
3d. and 4th.
—
The nursery and the beat way
to insure its existence.
A rich loam is the soil for Tobacco plants.
—
The spot selected for a bed, should be the south-side
of a gentle elevation as well protected as
possible by woods or shrubbery—a warm spot
—mellow ground, perfectly pulverized. Afur
it has been thoroughly burned with bush, dig
deep, and continue to dig, rake and chop until
every clod, root and stone be removed, theirleve!
and pulverize nicely with the rake. When
about half prepared, sow over it Guano, at the
rate of 600 lbs. to the acre, or fine ground bones
at the rate of twenty bushels to the acre, or half
the quantity mixed with well rotted stable ma
nure. By the after preparation this becomes
well intermixed with the soil. Mix one gill of
seed for every ten yards square, with a gallon of
dry plaster or dry sifted ashes, to every half pint
of seed, and sow it regularly, in the same man-ner
that gardeners sow small seeds, only with a
heaviei Land. Roll with a hand roller or tramp
with the f;efc. If tie bed he sown early in the
season, it ought to be cove", d with leafless bush.
but it is not necessary to covi/r them after the
middle of March, in this climate. Tobacco beds
may be sown at any time • ming winter if the
ground be not frozen or two wet. It is safest
'to sow it at intervals, whenever the land is in
' good order for working—never sow unless the
land be in good order, for the work will be
thrown away, if the land be too moi9t, or be
not pe ectly prepared. The beds must be kept
free from grass and w«eds, until they are no
longer needed, and the grass must be picked out
a s rig at a time by the • ngers. It is a tedi-ous
operation, therefore planters should be very
careful not to use any manures on their beds
which have grass so. ds or weeds in them. After
the plants are up, they should receive a -top-dressing
once every week or ten days, of manure
•own broadcast by the hand ; this should be a
compost composed in the following proportions
:
1-2 bushel of unleached aslxs,
1 bushel of fresh virgin wood's earth,
4 lbs. of pulverized sulphur,
1 2 gallon of plaster,
1 quart of salt dissolved in two gallons of
liquid manure from the barn-ynrd-—-the whole
well intermixed. Let a large quantity be pre-pared
in 'he autumn previous, and put up in
barrels, out of the weather, for use when want-ed.
If possible the plants should stand in
the bed from half an inch to one inch apart, and
if they are too thick, they may bo thin-ned
while inching the grass out, or they
may be raked out, when they have be-come
generally the size of a five or ten cent
piece. The rake proper for the purpose should
be a small common rake, with iron teeth, very
sharp, curved at the points, and three inches
long: teeth fiat, and three-eighths of an inch
wide, and set half an inch apart. The plants
that are pulled out by the rake must be taken
off the bed, or they will Uke again.
5th. and 6th
—
Method of transplanting.—
Preparation of the soil—description of Imple-ments,
etc.
The soil best adapted to the growth of To-bacco
is light friable soil, or what is commonly
called a sandy loam, not, too flat, but rolling, un-dulating
land—not liable to drown in excessive
rains. New land is far better than old.
The land intended for Tobacco should bo well
ploughed early in the spring, taking care to
turn the turf completely wn lor, nd stibsoiling
any portion that may be very stiff, or likely to
hold water near the surface, and let the land be
well harrowed soon after the breaking it up; it
should then bo kept clem, light at d 11 pul-verised,
by occasional working with cu'tivators
and large harrows, so as not t > disturb the turf
beneath the surface. When the plants are of good
size for transplanting, and the ground in good
order for their reception, the land or so much as
can be planted in a "season," (that is, while
wet) shou'd be " scraped," which is dine by
running parallel furrows with a small seeding
plow, (the Prouty and Meats' No. 2 1-2 for in-stance,
two and a half or three feet apart, then
crossi y .t . s gun at right angles, preserving
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 259
the same thstance, which leaves the ground di-vided
in ehekcs or squares of two and a half or
three feet each. The hoes are then put to work
and the hill is formed by drawing the two front
angles of the square into the hollow or middle
and then smoothed off on top so as to form a
i broad fiat hill about six inches high, then patted
with one blow of the hoe to compress the centre
of the hill, and cause a slight depression so as to
collect water about the plant. The first fine rain
thereafter, the plants should be removed from
the seed beds, and one carefully plantid in each
hill. A brisk man can plant 10,000 plants per
day. The smaller or weaker bands, with baskets
filled with plants, precede the planters and drop
the plants on llie hills.
In dialing' the plants from the bed, and in
carrying (hern to the ground, great care ou.:ht
to-be taken not to bruise or mash th>in. They
Bhould be put in baskets or barre's, if hauled in
carts, so that not many will be in a heap togeth-er.
The plants should never be planted deeper
than when they stood in the bed. Planting is
performed by taking the plant dropt on the hill
with the left hand, while the root is straitened
with the right, and one finger of the right hand
makes a hole in the centre of the hill, and the
root of the plant inserted with the left hand
the dirt is well cl >sed about the roots by press-ing
the forefinger and thumb of the right h„rnl
on each sid ol the plant, la'.ing car tuot
the earth well about the botto 11 of :l e roots.
—
If sticks 1 e used io plant with they should be
short, and the planter particular not to make the
holes too deep. The plains should be very care,
fully planted, for if the roots be put in e t up.
'or crooke 1, the plant rary i.-. , out will never
flourish, an I pel haps when too late to replant
it will die, and then all the labor will have been
mi no avail. In duej or four d.-ys it may be
wed out, that is, the hoes are passed near the
plants, and the hard cui^t formed on the hills
pulled away, and the edges of the hills puled
down in the furrows ; this is easily done if per-formed
soon after the planting, but if delayed,
and the ground gets grassy it fill be found to
be a very troublesome operation. After the
weeding out, put a table-spoonful of plaster of
Paris, (or a gill or plaster and ashes unleached,
well mixed together would be preferable) upon
each hill. In a few clays—say a week or a less
lime, run a small plow through it, going twice
in a row. This is a delicate operation, and re-quires
a steady horse and a skillful ploughman,
for without i real care the plants will be knock-ed
up or be killed by the working. The bar of
the plow should be run next to the plants. Tn
a week after, the " Tobacco Cultivator? or single
shovel, must be used. These implements are
well made by R. Sinclair, Jr. & Co., and other
Agricultural Implement makers of Baltimore.
—
Either implement is valuable at this stage of the
crop. Once in a row is often enough for the
shovel cultivator to pass. The crop can now be
made with their use, by working the tobacco
once a week or ten days, for four or five weeks,
going each time across the former working. Any
grass growing near the plants should be pulled
out by hand. As soon as the tobacco has be-come
too large to work without injuring the
leaves by the swingle-tree, the hand hoes should
pass through it, drawing earth to the plants
where required, and level ridges caused by the
cultivator or shovel. Let this hoeing be well
done, and the crop wants no more working.
Care should be taken to leave the land as lsvel
us possible, for level culture is generally the best.
As soon as it blossoms, or the buds are fairly
out, and the seed plants selected, all the rest
should be " topt " as soon as the blossom" ii
fairly formed. Do not wait for it to bloom, for
the hornblowers will be attracted by the flowers.
It should be topt down to the leaves that are six
inches long, if early in the season, but if late,
top still lower. If the season be favorable, in
two weeks ; fter a plant has been topt, it will be
fit for "cutting," yet it will not suffer by >taud
ing longer in the fields. From this stage of the
crop until it is in the house, it is a source of
great solicitude to the Planter. He is fearful
of storms, frost and worms, his worst enemy
they come now in crowds. The "suckers" are lo
be pulled off and " ground leaves " saved. The
•' suckers " ought to be pulled off as soon as
they get two or three inches long; they spring
out abundantly from each leaf where it is set off
260 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
the stalk. "Ground-leaves" fire those leaves at
the bottom of the plant which become dry on
the stalk, and ought to be gathered early in the
morning when they will not crumble.
When it is ripe enough for the house, it is
cut off close to the ground by turning up the
bottom leaves and striking with a sharp tobacco
knife, formed of an old scythe—such as are used
for cutting corn, or some persons have knives
made, like butchers' cleavers. Let it lay on the
ground for a short time to "fall" or wilt, and
then pick it up in shoulder turns, and carry it to
the tobacco house, when it may be put away in
three different modes, by "peging," "spearing"
and by "splitting." "Peging" Tobacco is the
neatest and best mode, yet the slowest. Tt is
done by driving little pegs, about six inches
long, and half an inch or less square, into the
stalk, and these pegs are driven in with a small
mallet in a slanting direction, so as to hook on
the sticks in the house. It is then put on a
"horse" which by a rope fixed to one coiner, is
pulled up in the house by hand, or by block and
teakle, and then hung on the sticks, which are
regulated to proper distances. A "tobacco horse''
is nothing more than three small sticks nailed
together so as to form a triangle, each side be-ing
three or four feet long. Spearing is the
plan I pursue, because it is the quickest plan.
—
A rough block with a hole morticed in it, and a
fork inserted a few inches from the hole, for the
tobacco stick to rest upon, one end being in the
hole, with a spear on the other end of the. stick,
is all the apparatus required. The plant is then
with both hands run over the spear, and thus
strung upon the stick—which when full is taken
to the house and hung up at once. There are
round spears, and dart-spears, like in form to
the Indian arrow heads,—hollow of course to
admit the sharpened end of the stick.
" Splitting" tobacco is admired by many who
contend that makes it cjre quicker and brighter
certainly quicker, and less likely to house burn,
or injure from too thick hanging. The mode is
easily pursued by simply splitting the stalk
standing in the field, with a knife made for the
purpose. The stalk is split from the top to a
few inches of the bottom, some days before cut-ting
the tobacco for housing—care should be
taken not to break the leaves while splitting.—
The knife may be fully described by saying it is
a miniature spade. It can be easily made, in-serting
a pari of an old scythe blade in a cleft
oak handle, with its edges bevelled off to the
blade, so that it will act as a wedge to the de-scending
knife. After it has been split, cut
down and carried to the house, it is straddled on
the sticks, which are placed in forks for greater
convenience in stringing it on the sticks—and is
then hungup in the house
—
Tobucco sticks, are
small round sticks, or are split out like laths, one
or one and a half inches square, usually larger
at one end than the other, and ought to be eight
or ten inches longer than the joists of the tobac-co
house are wide apart.
If the tobacco is of good size, six or seven
plants are enough on a four foot stick. When
first hungup, the sticks should be a foot of fif-teen
inches apart. As the tobacco cures they
may be pushed up closer. After the houfe is
filled and has yellowed, some planters put large
fires under it, which dries it at once, increasing
its brightness somewhat, but "firing" imparts a
smoke-smell and taste which is objectionable to
buyers. The better plan is to have sufficient
house-room, and hang it thin in houses not too
large, which have windows and doors so as to
admit light and dry air, and by closing them in
bad weather, exclude hard winds, and the damp-ness,
by which it is materially injured in color
and otherwise damaged. After becoming well
cured, the stem of the leaf being from sap, the
first mild damp spell of weather, it will become
pliant, and then may be stript off the stalk. It
is first pulled or taken off the sticks and laid in
piles, then the leaves are stript off and tied in
bundles, of about one fifth or one sixth of a
pound each. The bundle is formed by wrapping
a leaf around the head or upper part of the
handful of leaves, for about four inches, and
tucking the end of the leaf in the middle of th«
bundle by way of confining it. There ought, i
the quality of the crop will permit, be four sorti
of tobacco, " yellow" " bright," " dull" an<
^'second" When the tobacco is taken down th
'' cullers " take each plant and pull oft" the defec
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 269
the annual swarms of educated youth from its
industrious hive would carry with them to the
remotest parts, Mount Vernon would renew
throughout the world its benignant influence!
put on the aspect of that glory which lies now
buried in its bosom, and become again a source
of joy to the immortal mind it nursed, if the
unbodied soul can take an interest in sublunary
things once dear to it. For the living surely,
and to all future generations of the living, it
would be pregnant with blessings, and not only
to those deriving immediate instruction in the
first and best business of life, but all the pil-grims
of every nation on earth that may, through
successive ages, visit the sepulchre of the apoi
tie of liberty, would carry away with its patri-otic
inspiration a sense of the value of tuition in
the art which creates personal independence and
imparts the vigor of mind and body essential to
the maintenance of political freedom.
The principal professor of the Smithsonian
Institution (Mr. Henry) has been consulted in
reference to its becoming the nucleus of the
agricultural establishment here proposed. He
does not consider the funds at its disposal more
than sufficient to accomplish what he considers
the main object in which it is now engaged, and
to add to the assistance it now gives incidental-ly
to agricultural instruction, the advantage of a
course of annual lectures on the subject. With
the aid of the appropriation which Congress
makes every session for the benefit of agricul-
•ture, in the shape of Patent Office reports, &c,
&c, the whole system of instruction contem-plated
for the agricultural school might be car-ried
out through the agency of the Smithsonian
Institution ; its regents becoming the board of
agriculture, to which Washington looked as the
instrument of so much good, and Mount Ver-non
as the model farm (worked by the students
like those of Europe conducted on a similar plan)
I supporting them by its products.
The purchase of the farm, and the construc-tion
of tenements <bv the superintendent and
scholars, would require considerable expenditure
in the beginning, but the establishment, perma-nently
founded, under proper management,
could preserve itself, provide amply for the sub-sistence
of the number of scholars engaged in the
cultivation of the farm and receiving the instruc-tion
of the Smithsonian Institution. As a pro-perty
appurtenant to the latter, the question of
jurisdiction of the general government over the
soil, as clashing with that of Virginia, would be
avoided. It would be a farm and a school, like
other farms and schools in Virginia, subject to
the general laws of the State, and to such rules
of the Institution as the parties entering it would
make obligatory by their own consent.
If, however, unforseen difficulties should be pre-sented
to the acquisition and application of it to
the object proposed, there are many farms finely
situated in the District of Columbia suitable for
the design if it shall be the pleasure of Congress
to adopt it. And here, (if Congress has exert-ed
a constitutional power in providing a hospital
for the insane of the District,) it may, if in its
wisdom it deems fit, found a district school ex-tending
its benefits to the same of the whole
country.
The undersigned committee respectfully sub-mit
this memorial, believing that they represent
truly, not only the wishes and interests of the
Maryland State Agricultural Society, but many
others of the agricultural associations which a
zeal for the improvement of husbandry has given
birth to in every State of the Union. The
opinion generally prevails that Congress may
organize a system at the capital for the diffusion
of agricultural knowledge, associated with that
already established for kindred objects, and that
it might be made, under wise and prudent leg-islation,
auxiliary to the aims of every Slate ag-ricultural
school or associatian in the Union,
and thus advance the greatest interest of the
country, not merely by its own direct action, but
by the impulse it would give to co-operating
systems in the several States.
JAS. T. EARLE,
ODEN BOWIE,
CLEMENT HILL,
F. F. BLAIR,
GEO. W. HUGHES.
2t0 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
Fall Plowing for Spring Crops.
The fact mentioned in the Rural, last week,
that Mr. Emmons obtained over fifty bushels of
barley per acre, on land plowed in the fall, and
simply cultivated and harrowed without plow-ing
in the spring, proves at least, that in some
cases good crops can be so obtained. If it were
found to bo the case, as a general thing, much
advantage would accrue from the practice, he
fall is the least busy portion of the farmers'
working season, wliile the spring is the busiest.
If any work, therefore, which we are accustom-ed
to do in the spring, can be performed in the
fall, without injury to the following crop, itcan-not
but be of advantage to do it in the leisure,
rather than the busy season of the year. Barley
is well known to delight in a warm, well pulver-ized,
active soil, and if fall plowing, as a substi-tute
for spring plowing, answers for barley, it
would be very likely to answer for potatoes, oats,
corn, and other spring crops. We fear, howe-ver,
as a general thing, laud plowed in the fall
is not in as good a condition for putting in
spring crops as though it had been plowed in
the spring.
It is true that English farmers plow one-fourth
of all their arable land in the fall. They do
this to expose it as much as possible to the me-liorating
effects of frost ; but we are under no
such necessity ; our laud gets frozen enough
without being fall plowed or thrown up in ridg-es
f( r exposure. hen again, though, accord-ing
to American travelers at least, it rains in
England all the time, yet it seldom rains hard
enough to wash the laud. John Bull knows
nothing of those tremendous rains which deluge
our farmers late in the fall and early in the
spring. If he did, we believe fall plowing, on
sandy soil, would not be so popular with the old
gentleman. Again, nearly every farm in En-gland
is thoroughly underdrained, and the rain
which on an undrained fie'd runs off in surface
ditches, carrying in solution and suspension
large quantities of the elements of plants washed
out of the soil, on an underdrained farm, filters
slowly through the soil to the drains beneath,
leaving in the soil all the ammonia it brought
with it from the clouds. We cannot cite the
practice of English farmers, therefore, as an evi-dence
that fall plowing for spring crops is a
good practice in America.
A clay soil, properly underdrained, would
doubtless be much the better for a good, deep
plowing in the fall. But we think it would al-so
need another plowing in the spring. On
sandy, undrained soils, fall plowing may be a
good substitute for spring plowing, so far as the
mechanical nature of the soil is concerned, but
we cannot but think that the fall and spring
rains would wash out a considerable quantity of
the soluble and most valuable portion of the
soil, and more, if fall plowed, than if the ground
were left undisturbed, compact, and smooth.
There are those, however, who hold a contra-trary
opinion, and we believe fall plowing for
spring crops is becoming every year more gen-eral.
And certainly no strongi-r evidence in fa-vor
of any practice can be adduced than the
fact that it is gradually extending among ob-serving,
practical farmers. We should like to
have the experience, the experiments, the ob-served
facts—not the theories—of our readers
on this point.
—
New England Farmer.
The value of deep plowing has been illustrat-ed
this year to an extraordinary degree. The
land thus plowed resists the drought with great
effect, and the farm of Professor Mapes, in New
Jersey, is given as an instance. Not a single
plant seems to have suffered for want of mois-ture.
This prolific farm, bending under its
fruit 5
, whilst all the neighboring farms have had
their crops parched in the fields, is given as a
striking proof of the value of sub-soil plowing
in a dry season. But how arc our farmers to
know that the season will be dry when they
plow ?
A New Substifutc for the Potato.
In the garden of the Horticultural Society at
Chiswick are growing two plants of a Chinese
yam, which is expected to prove an excellent
substitute for the potato. They have been ob-tained
from the Jardin dcs Planles at Paris,
where they have been made the subject of ex-periments
that leave no doubt that it will be-come
a plant of real importance in cultivation.
' If," says M. Decaisne, who has paid much at-
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 271
tentiou to matters of this kind, " a new plant
Las a chance of becoming useful in rural econ-omy,
it must fulfill certain conditions, in the
absence of which its cultivation cannot be pro-fitable.
In the first place, it must have been
domesticated in some measure, and must suit
the climate ; moreover, it must in a few months
go throngh all the stages of development, so as
not to interfere with the ordinary and regular
course of cropping; and, finally, its produce
must have a market value in one form or an-other.
"If the plant is intended for the food of man,
it is also indispensable that it shall not offend
the tastes or the culinary habits of the persons
among whom it is introduced. To this may be
added that almost all the old perennial plants
of the kitchen garden have been abandoned in
favor of annuals, wherever the latter could be
found with similar properties. Thus, lathi/rim
tuberosus, sedum telephium, &c, have given
way before potatoes, spinach, and the like.
—
Now, the Chinese yam satisfies every one of
these conditions. It has been domestic from
time immemorial, it is perfectly hardy in this
climate (Paris,) its root is bulky, rich in nutri-tive
matter, eatable when raw, easily c ioked,
either by lulling or roasting, and then having
no other taste than that of flour (fecule.) It is
as much a ready made bread as the potato, and
it is better than the batatas, or sweet potato.
Horticulturists should, therefore, provide them-selves
with the new arrival, and try experiments
with it in the different climates and soils of
France. If they bring to their task, which is
of great public importance, the requisite a-mount
of perseverance and intelligence I have
a firm belief that the potato jam (it/name
batatas) will, like its predecessor the pota'o
make many a fortune, and more ospecia'ly
alleviate the distress of the lower classes of the
j. people."
Such is M. Decaisne's account of this new
food plant, which is now in actual cultivaiiun
at Chiswick ; and, judging from the size ofthe
set from which one of the plants had sprung, it
is evident that the tubeis have all the requisites
for profitable cultivation. One has been plant
ed under glass, the other in the open air, and at
present both appear to be thriving equally well.
The species has been called didscorta bitatas,
or the potato yam. It is a climbing plant,
bearing considerable vesemb'anee to our com-mon
black bryony, and when it is considered
how nearly that plant is related to the yams,
the probability of our new comer becoming nat-uralized
among us receives support. Whether,
however, it realizes all that the French say of it
or not, the trial of it in this country cannot
prove otherwise than interesting and worthy of
the society which has had the honor of intro-ducing
it. Lotus hope, however, that it may
indeed prove what it is professed to be—"a
good substitute for the potato," and in all res-pects
equal to that valuable esculent.
Southern Appi.es.—Speaking ot two varie-ties
lately sent him by Mr. Lest-ur, of Colpar-chee,
Monroe county, Robert Nel.-on, says:
"I must here urge on a subject of some im-portance
to the South.
" What could be more profitable than such an
orchard in any of the southern States bordering
on the Atlantic? These and similar southern
varieties could easily be shipped to the northern
markets, and arrive there in all their beauty and
flavor. Surely, the northern fruit-growers would
be surprised, and -all lovers of fruit be glad to pay
a very remunerating price. The south would
have the market in its own hand without com-petition
for at least six weeks ! Just think of
that ! The north has too long been supplying
..s with apples. Let us make the tide roll back
again. The pride as well as the | rospect of pro-fit
otightio arouse the South to such enterprise." —Georyia Citizen.
The '• Romani'te "(?) Apple, figured ai d des-cribed
by Mr. Nelson, in a late number of the Cit-izen,
bear little or no rest mblance to the "Shock-ley."
i lay is now proved to be the Uet means of
retaining manure. Sew ia L e wal. r filtered
through it comes out destitute of smell; and
what is better, minus the v lual.le salts of am-monia,
a kaline, h. sphates, and other soluble
i'eiti i-.eis. which are retained by the clay.
272 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
TH EJFXR M E IT S J MIAL.
EALEIGH, N. C, DECEMBER, 1854.
SZ3T All letters on business or subscriptions,
must be addressed to W. I). Cooke, who alone is
authorized to receive money on account of the
Journal, and no name will be entered upon the
books unless the money accompanies the subscrip-tion.
Communications for the Journal should
be addressed to Dr. Jno. F. Tompkins, Raleigh,
n. a
TRAVELING AGENTS FOE THE JOTTRNAL.
John Collins, and Luther Root.
LOCAL AGENTS FOR THE JOURNAL.
James Simmons, Weldon, N. C-John
S. Dancy, Tarboro', "
Dr. R. H. Shield, Winton, "
Daniel Valentine, " "
Col. Thomas Memory, Whitesvillc, N. C.
Louis Desmond, Kinston, "
B. D. Mann, Hilliardston,
Augustus Latham, SwiltCreek, "
VV. A. Darden, Speight's Bridge, " W L. Pomeroy, Raleigh, "
Jere. Nixon, " "
Wm. H. Jones, " "
Messrs. Hyman & Arkington, Warrenton.
T. W. Whitley, Smithfield, N. C.
Martin Sicman, Wadosboro', "
John M. Forbes, Camden County, N. C.
C. C. Bonner, Rocky Mount, "
S. W. Chadwick, Newberne, "
R. H. Smith, Scotland Neck, "
J. L. Lawrence, " * "
Gen. H. G. Spkuii.l, Plymouth, "
J. White, White's Store, Anson County.
Wm. R. W. Sheruod, Hamilton, N. C.
B. B. Rives, Greene County N. C.
E. C. & Y. Jones, Yanceyville, N. C.
A. Willis, " "
Wm. Long, " "
Col. John H. Harrison, Ringwood, N. C.
Gtn. Hiatt, Guiilord County.
L. J. Haugiiton, Chatham County.
W. D. Reddick, Newby's Bridge, N. C.
Dr. Jno- Shackelford, Trenton, N. C.
Owen Fennel, Harrell's Store, N. C.
James J. McKee, Elizabethtowii, N. C.
Col. L. W. Humphrey, Richland's, N C.
Cnl. L. W. Montfort, Onslow County.
Henry Elliott, Esq., Cumberland Co.
Col. W. H. Tripp, Beaufort County, N. C.
Dr. W. Carstarphen, Gtarysburg, N. 0.
THE PEA CROP, &c.
The cultivation of the pea crop in the South
is regarded by practical fanners as being as great
an improver of lands as the clover in the North.
The cultivation to any great extent of the pea
as a green crop for turning under in the fall,
began, we think, with the great agriculturist,
Edmund Ruffin, of Va., who, with the cultiva-tion
of the pea, and the use of marl, has been a-benefaetor
to the farmers of his State. By re-ferring
to the analysis of the pea, it will be seen
that it contains a very large per cent of lime,
and a much greater amount is to be found in
the stalk or vine than in any other part. This
being the case it may be readily seen how im-portant
it is, where lime does not exist in the
soil to a considerable extent, that in order that
a good pea crop may be raised, it should be sup"
plied. And it is also apparent that in as much
as the larger portion of the lime is required in
the growth of the vine, the farmer should be
careful that the stock do not destroy the vine,
for it is in this way that so many wornout
lands are to be seen over North Carolina at this
time. In the turning under of the pea crop, it
must be recollected that it is only the addition
of vegetable matter that is furnished to the soil,
for there is only the same mineral matter re-turned
that is taken from the soil in ihp growth
of the crop. And it should be a question of
much importance from the character of the land
whether or not peas be sown as a fertilizer. If
there be a want of vegetable or organic matter
in the soil, this deficiency can be better and
sooner supplied in this country by the growth
of peas than in any other way. But if the soil
be of the character of what is called vegetable
mould, where already there is an excess of vege-table
matter, it would be folly to sow peas up-on
such land with a view of improving it. Up-on
most high land farms, which are wornout,
the farmer may without reference to analysis,
use the pea as a green crop, for it is generally the
case that much lands in an exhausted condition
are deficient in organic or vegetable matter.
—
Some farmeis pursue the plan of sowing peas at
the last plowing of the corn crop in ihe summer,
with a view of turning them under in the fall
when they sow the same field in wheat. Thi3
is not so good a plan as the sowing of the peas
broad-cast upon a field upon which wheat, or
oats, have been grown during the summer. In
this case the peas should be sown as soon as the
wheat or oats are reaped, when there will be
time sufficient, as our climate now is, for the pea
to mature sufficiently for this purpose. Upon
this field the next year corn, cotton, or tobacco,
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 261
tive, trashy, ground and worm eaten leaves that
are next to the big or butt end of the stalk, and
then throw the plant to the next person, who
strips off all the bright leaves (and if there be
. any yellow leaves, he pulls them off, and lays
them aside, until he collects enough to make a
bundle) and throws the plant to the next, who
takes off all the rest, being the "dull," and the
respective strippers as they get leaves enough in
hand, tie up the bundles and throw them in
seperate piles for convenience in bulking. The
cullers strip nothing but "seconds;" stripping
should never be done in drying or harsh weath-er,
unless the tobacco is bulked up almost as
fast as it is stripped. The better plan is to take
down no more than you can tie up in a few
hours. If the planter chooses, he can take down
a large quantity and put it in bulk, stalks and
all, cover it with tobacco sticks, and it will keep
for several days, so that no matter how the.
weather may be, he can strip out of bulk. How-ever,
this is a bad, wasteful way. Tobacco
should not be moist or " high " as it is termed,
when put in the stalk-bulk, for it will get warm,
the leaves stick to the stalk, get a bad smell and
change color, beside if left too long it will rot.
It requires judgment and neatness to bulk to-bacco.
Two logs should be laid parallel to each
other, about thirty inches apart, and the space
between them filled with sticks for the purpose
of keeping the tobacco free from dampness of
the ground. The bundles are then taken one at
a time, spread out and smoothed down, which
is most conveniently done by putting it against
the breast, and stroking the leaves downward
smooth, and straight with the right hand. It is
then passed, two bundles at a time, to the man
bulking. He takes them, lays them down and
presses them with his hands ; they are laid two
at a time in a straight line— the broad part of
the bundles slightly projecting over the next
two, and two rows of bundles are put in d"hulk,"
both rows carried on together, the heads being
on the outside, and the tails just lapping one
over the other in regular succession. The bulk
when carried up to a convenient height, should
have a few sticks laid on the top to keep it in
place. It must often be examined, and if get-ting
warm, it ought to be immediately changed
and laid down in another bulk of less height,
and not pressed as it is laid down : this is called
" wind rowing :" being loose and open it admits
the air between the rows of bundles, hence the
term. The next process is to condition it for
"packing." The bright yellow and second to-bacco
will "condition'' generally best in such,
bulks as I have described, but the "dull" ought
to be hung up, by standing the bundles on
sticks, before it is put in bulk, as soon, in fact,
as it is stript. If the bright or seconds do not
dry thoroughly in the bulks, that also should
be hung up to become, completely dry. Properly
to hang up tobacco to condition, small sized
sticks should be procured and each one made
very smooth, and kept expressly for that pur-pose.
After it has once been perfectly dry—so
dry that the heads are easily knocked off, and
the shoulders of the bundles upon being pressed
crack like pipe-steams, it should be taken down,
or if in bulk, removed, the first soft spell of
weather, as soon as it is soft and yielding
enough, as it will become, to handle without
crumbling or breaking, and it must be put in
four, six or eight rowed bulks of any convenient
length and height—the higher the better,—laid
down close, so that as little of the leaf or shoul-ders
as possible shall be exposed on the outside
of the bulks. When completed, put sticks
evenly over it, and then pile up logs of wood
on the sticks, so as to heavily weigh it down.
—
Here it will keep sweet and in nice order for
packing at any time, no matter how the weather
may be, if it was conditioned properly, will not
change a particle while in the condition bulk.
Mild, soft pleasant weather is the best to pack
tobacco in. The best tobacco prize is one known
as "Page's Prize," much improved by F. Grieb,
of Upper Marlbro', Prince George's Co., Md.
It is cheap, expeditious in its working, being
easily taken down and put up, may with conve-nience
be moved from house to house.
As to the size of the hogshead, the best size
is the ultimatum of the law of Md., fifty two
inches long and forty inches in the head. Al-most
any wood will answer to saw into hogs-head
6tuff, the best of course, is that which is
262 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
strong, but weighs ligbt, as gum or poplar. No
hogshead ought to weigh over 100 lbs., and
staves drawn from oak, make the best, though
tbey are too costly.
It ought to have been observed, that while
putting the tobacco in condition bulk, all bun-dles
that were soft or had a bad smell, should
have been laid aside to be rendered afterwards
sweet and dry by a few hours exposure to the
sun. This precaution must bo observed in pack-ing
In putting the tobacco in the hogshead,
he who packs, takes off his shoes and gets in-side
the hogshead, and has an assistant to hand
him the tobacco. He lays one bundle at a
time, in a circle, heads outward, beginning in
the centre, and each circle is extended w til the
outer circle touches the staves of the hogshead;
a sino-le row of bundles is then laid all around
the edsfe, on beads of the outer circle, then
across the hogshead in parallel rows, the mid-dle
being always raised a little higher than the
outer edge. This is called a "course," and these
courses are continued until the hogshead be fill-ed.
The packer presses with his knees each
bundle as he lays it down, and often stands on
his feet and presses heavily, cautiously all round,
and across, so as get in as much as possible.
—
One receiving hogshead, and two false hogs-heads,
five feet long, making fourteen feet four
inches of tobacco, will weigh from nine hundred
to one thousand pounds, if in good order, and
well hand-packed. This concludes the almost
ceaseless round of labor, necessary to prepare
for market this important staple of our coun-try.
1th. What kind of manure the best?
Ashes at the rate of 100 bushels per acre,
sown broad-cast just when the land is harrowed
the second time, is unquestionably the best ma-nure
for Tobacco. Experience fully proves thi
fact.
8. Mode of applying it—and the consequences
of its application as compared with soil not ma-nured.
It has just been stated how it is best to
be applied, and its effects are so striking that
there is no comparison between the land that is
ashed, a':d the soil not dressed with ashes. New
land for two crops however, would have the crop
but slightly improved by ashes, if it was natu-rally
fertile and newly cleared up.
9th and 10th. Different manures, such as
Guano, Bone-dust, &c. compared with one ano-ther,
with regard to Tobacco, and their influence
on the vegetation of the plants, and ou the in-sects
which attack it.
Guano acts well on tobacco on most soils, but
is of no use on rich tobacco soils—it is an use-less
expense. On very poor, stiff or light sandy
soils, it is exceedingly valuable, and will well re-pay
the outlay. "When used in the seed bed, it
causes the plants to grow quickly, and in a wet
season would soon force the plants beyond the
harm of the fly. It certainly, too, if mixed with
wood's earth, or rich dirt, and sown broad-cast
over the young plants, would aid by forcing the
plants and by its odor and other qualities, in
keeping off to a great extent the fly. Bone-dust
is too slow in its action to help the tobac-co
crop much. Potash is a most active and
powerful fertilizer for this crop. 100 lbs. of
plaster of Paris, and 200 pounds of Potash well
intermixed, or ground together, and applied to
the acre just before the hills are stuck up, has
been found to materially benefit the tobacco
crop. The result of this application, has been
found to surprise the most dubious and unbeliev-ing.
It is an admirable dressing for tobacco
land.
Wooden charcoal applied thickly as a top-dressing
to the plants in the bed, while moist
with dew, is valuable, because the black surface
would attract the rays of the sun, and cause by
the increased heal, a greater growth of the
plants, and it has been found effective in arrest-ing
the ravages of the fly.
11th. Best, cheapest and most effectual way
either to destroy those insects, if they should
make their appearance, or to avoid their appear-ing
altogether. The insects that molest the to-bacco
plants, are the Turnip fly, the tobacco fly,
and the grub and tobacco worm. The tobacco
fly is much smaller than the turnip fly, and of a
lighter color. They both attack the plant in its
tender slate, and often destroy millions of plants.
The only remedies that past experience has ever
found of r.ny avail, have bem such <:s have al
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 263
ready been pointed out. They do not trouble
beds that are covered up with brush, but brush
can only be allowed a certain time upon the
beds, and when it is removed, the plants should
receive very frequent dustings of very finely
pulverized manure, or even sand, especially
when tlie weather is cool, and dry with harsh
winds. It is in such weather the fly delights
to do its work of destruction. The grub is a
small short brown worm, found in all old, rich
land, and cuts off the young plants in the hill,
just above ground below the bud, hence it is
called by planters the "cut-worm." Five bushels
of refuse salt, or ten would be better, sown broad-cast
over each acre, when the land was laid off
for the hills, would effectually prevent their mo-lestations,
beside it would be a great help to the
tobacco in its young state, giving it a quick and
strong start, though its effects would not last
through the season. The great pest is the to-bacco
worm. This worm is hatched on the to-bacco
leaf, grows very rapidly, and in a few
days arrives at its full age or maturity, when in-stinct
prompts it to bury itself some eight or
ten inches under ground. In this self-made
grave, it undergoes a change and makes its ap-pearance
as a sort of butterfly, which planters call
" Horn-blower." These horn-blowers appear
about the middle of May, and may be seen every
morning and evening, flying about among the
flowers and blossoming weeds, taking especial
delight in the flowers of the Jamestown weed.
They deposit their eggs on the tobacco leaf
—
laying myriads, n.'t in clusters but seperately,
and seldom more than two or four eggs on a
leaf. In about a fortnight these eggs produce a
little worm so small, it is hardly to be seen by
the naked eye, and yet it eats a hole in the leaf
as though a large needle had punctured it; in
a few days it has grown to be as large as a man's
finger, and has eaten pounds of green tobacco.
It is constantly eating and digesting its food,
growing in ske, and discharging its excrement,
which is hard and round and black, resembling
in form and color "Lee's Anti-bilious Pills." It
is a fact no less true than wonderful, that this
little worm, never reaching over two ounces in
weight, will eat and digest in fifteen days, from
two to three pounds of green tobacco. The
larger ones make considerable noise while eat-ing.
They ought to be destroyed as soon as
they appear, or they will destroy the crop.
—
Turkeys aid greatly the planter in killing these
worms. They eat great quantities, and kill ma-ny
they do not eat. It is a cherished amuse-ment
with the turkey, to kill tobacco worms,
and they grow fond of the sport. Each year
there are two "gluts" of worms. The first at-tacks
the tobacco, when about one-fourth grown,
and the second when it is nearly ripe and ready
housing. The first can readily be subdued with
a good supply of turkeys, and if then they are
effectually destroyed, the second glut can be
easily managed, for it is a well settled fact, that
a large portion of the first glut reappear the
same year, as horn-blowers, and breed myriads.
When the second army of worms comes on, the
tobacco is generally so large that turkeys are of
little use. They must then be killed by hand.
Begin in time, start when they are being hatch-ed—
keep up a strict watch, going over the
whole field, plant by plant, kill all that are to
be seen, and destroy the eggs, and by constant
attention,* each morning and evening to this
business alone, with the whole force of the farm,
they may be prevented from doing much harm.
When thev disappear the second time, there is
no more cause of trouble, for that year at any
rate. They might be in a few years wholly ex-terminated
by concert and united action on the
part of all tobacco planters, and in this manner.
About the first of December, after hard frosts
have set in, plough up every field where tobac-co
had been grown that were in the chrysalis
state, would be thus turned up and be de ;troy-d
by the frosts, snow and rain, and birds.
—
Very early in March, go about the tobacco
houses and dig up the floors, scrape under the
sills, and plough deeply for some distance,
around the houses, and destroy every one that
could be seen. Make it also a point to reward
ev«ry egro. « ' and young, liberally, lor
em h horn-flower's head throughout the whole
year. In 1848 one gentleman offered one cent
for every horn-blower that his negroes shorl I
catch and bring to him. He allowed th m cna
264 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
hour before sunset, to stop work ns to catch
blowers. The first evening they brought him
in 1,650 !! Another paid to his people during
the season, fifteen or twenty dollars, at only one
fourth of a cent per head. Another farmer in
digging about his ^obacco house for the manure
which had accumulated there, says he destroy-ed
over a bushel of worms in the chrysalis state.
The same year a planter gathered sixteen bush-els
of worms from 40,000 plants, and did not
get over one half then. That year great atten-tion
was paid to the destruction of the blower
and worms, in the forest of P. George's County,
and for several years after there were compara-tively
but few worms. If this system was regu-larly
pursued by every planter, in a few years
this dreadful enemy of the plant, would be en-tirely
exterminated, or at least rendered harm-less.
'
13th. Best method by horse-hoes or any oth-er,
to keep the field clean from weeds. Has
been fully discusstd under the paragraphs 5th
and 6th.
14th. The planting of Tobacco at different
distances compared with one another.
Three feet each way, under all circumstances
is most generally the best distance. It is wholly
against my experience, to plant tobacco in drills,
and work it only one way. On very rich land
it will grow very largo, as close as two feet each
way—and two feet nine inches will produce
large tobacco, but all these close plantings are
objectionable, because it becomes troublesome
to work, is liable to be broken and torn, and
the worms cannot be properly gof rid of, when
it is so close together ; for these reasons I much
prefer three feet each way, or at any rate 3x2
feet 6 inches. The closer it is planted, the finer
will be the texture and quality as to color.
This is my experience and observation of the
crops of others.
15th. Different operations which it is subject-ed
to before cutting. See them fully explained,
under headings 5th and 6th.
16th, 17th and 18th. Taking in the crops
—
the different operations to which it is subjected
before being sent to market ;—and the best
mode of packing, Lave all been treated of, un-der
5th and 6th sections or paragraphs of this
Essay.
19th. Preparations or substanoes used for the
preservation of the leaf, before and after being
ready for market. No other preparation aa
herein before stated, and the hogshead is the
only substance required to preserve the leaf for
ages, if it was well conditioned when packed into
it, provided it be kept out of the wet weather,
and free from water.
20lh. Effect of watering, or artificial Irriga-tion,
on the development and quality of the to-bacco
plant requires frequent and light showers,
or cool nights and heavy dews. Too much wa-ter
as effectually kills it, as too much heat and
drought. Judicious watering of the seed-bed is
often very happy ill its effect:., and sometimes
positively necessary. The plants could always
be forced by this piocess, but the clanger is that
if forced too much, they become over-grown
before there falls sufficient rain to enable the
planter to set them in the hills. In a dry sea-son
what is termed watering is ofteu done, and
succeeds well. This is done, by watering a part
of the seed-bed, so that the plants may be drawn
easily without breaking the roots, or brusing the
leaves or buds. The hills being newly made,
about two hours before suu-set, the laborers go
into the field with the plants—one or two pass
over the ground with stout clubs, striking one
end in the centre of each hill, about two inches
deep, and large enough to hold half a pint of
water, others follow with buckets and cans, or
gourds, and fill quickly the holes with water,
others follow and drop the plants, which are di-rectly
planted by the planters. The water should
have time U> settle in the earth before the plants
are stuck. Some prefer to do this work early
in the morning before the sun is an hour high.
To insure their living, it would be well to have
grass, such as clover, cut early in the morning
when moist with dew, and drop a handful on
each plant, planted the evening before or the
same morning. This keeps the ground moi&t,
and shades the plant until it takes root, and
before any bad effect could be produced upon
the plant by lying upon it. the grass or clover
dry up as the plant gradual y increased in \igor,
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 265
and in a few days it could scarcely be seen,'
while by its protective shading, the plants would
be green and growing, and capable of resisting
the scorching rays of the sun. Where water is
convenient to the tobacco field, the hands would
after a little practice average four or five hun-dred
plauts each evening. Thus ten hands
could plant twenty-five or thirty thousand
weekly ; but the water must be near and easily
obtained. In such situations where general ir-rigation
of the field could be made, there is no
doubt, but the best effects would be produced-
If properly irrigated, not too much water, but
frequent applications when the ear:h was dry
and wanting rain, the tobacco would grow quick
and mature early, two things that invariably
produce a fine article, if the weather should
prove favorable for the curing.
Here closes this humble effort. If it prove
beneficial to the grower of tobacco, the author
will feel happy, and rejoice that therein he finds
his highest reward.
November 24, 1853.
From the American Farmer.
In the Senate of the United States, Mr. Mor-ton
made the following report
The Committee on Agriculture, toxuhom was refer-red
thememorial of the Maryland State Agri-cultural
Society, submit the following report:
That they have had under consideration the
said memorial, (which, it appears, has been
adopted by the United States Agricultural Soci-ety,
recently convened in the city of Washing-ton,)
proposing the establishment of an agricul-tural
school and experimental farm at Mount
Vernon, under the auspices of the general gov-ernment,
and approve the design of the memo-rialists,
and ask for it the favorable consideration
of the Senate.
The United States, while they lead the civili-zation
of the age in almost every other useful
art, are far in the rear of the rival States of Eu-rope
in that which relates to husbandry. Eng-land,
Scotland, and Ireland, France, Germany,
an-1 even the minor States of the continent, have
agricultural schools, with experimental farms at-tached,
to blend science and practical skill in
forming a model system of .cultivation. A sys-tematic
education is deemed indispensable to im-prove
the art of husbandry, as it is found essen-tial
to impart progress in every other pursuit of
civilized life. We have no schools of agricul-ture,
and receive only from report and very re-mote
example the impulse which has led to re-newed
efforts in this country, to imitate the cul-livation
abroad that has, in some degree, redeem-ed
it firm the rudeness which threatened to con-demn
us to perpetual inferiority.
The longing in the public mind for scientific
teaching and experimental proof and example,
which contrast the improvement of Europe so
strongly with ours, is so generally manifested that
Congress has attempted to gratify it, by pub-lishing
annually, at great expense, gleanings on
agricultural subjects, gathered by the Commis-sioner
of Patents, and by scattering seeds of va-rious
kinds among the farmers of the country.
This effort on the part of Congress, although
well received, evidently does not satisfy its con-stituents.
The innumerable agricultural socie-ties
springing up everywhere, and the multitude
of agricultural journals, all express the general
desire in favor of some head and system, to
make a model school of instruction, which will
beget similar institutions in the States, through
those taught in it. The contribution Congress
now makes to advance the husbandry of the na-tion
is evideully not properly directed; for it
leaves the public unsatisfied and restless in re-gard
to the aid afforded by government to ad-vance
the great art upon which its wealth and
power mainly depend. The committee think,
whatever Congress attempts to do in a matter of
such magnitude, it ought to do well. It exerts its
power liberally to promote and protect the com-merce
of the country. Military and naval scliooh
are the small part of the machinery devoted to
that object. Manufactures have had millions
on millions lavished, in indirect bounties, to es-tablish
them. Our Patent Office, and its appen-dages,
constitute •- government establishment to
advance, by the large bonus derived through
[latent rights on every good invention in mechan-ics,
the interest of the class engaged in that
species of national industry- Cofy-rights pro-
£60 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
vide rt numeration to slimilate literary labor.
—
Yet the government does nothing to < mbodv
intelligence and give it direction to assist the
efforts of individuals in the greatest business of
life, and that which should be the greatest care
cf government.
The committee would recommend the memo-rial
of the State Agricultural Society of Mary-land,
supported by that if the United Stat s, to
the favorable consideration of the Senate, as pre-senting
a plan well calculated to fill, what al
admit to be a great void amid the institutions o'
the country. It recommends an appropriation
to be placed at the disposal of the President,
and applied at his discretion, to purchase Mount
Vernon, to be converted into an experimental
f.im, connected with an agricultural school, and
both to be attached either to the Smithsonian
Institution or Patent Office, and to receive from
the coritroling authority of the one with which
it may be assciated, an organization in analogy,
(so far as difference in objects allows,) like that
of the West Point Academy, under the War
Department; the plan when matured to be sub-mitted
to Congress for modification and adop-tion.
The committee, in further elucidation i f its
vie-^s, submit the said memorial, which contains
the recommendations of Washington upon the
subject, as a part of this report, and ask that it
be printed herewith.
MEMORIAL.
To tkt> Congress of the United States ofAmerica:
The Maryland State Agricultural Society,
(through its coin mil tee, appointed at its last gen-eral
meeting,) beg leave to submit the veiws cn-tertaii
e I by it in relation to the improvement
of agriculture, and to solicit for the plan propos-ed
in the n emorial presented in its behalf the
favorable consideration of Congress.
The Smithsonian Institution at Washington,
has been spoken ol as a seminary, around which
might spring up that national boa'd or school
of agriculture, with an experimental farm an-nexed,
contemplated by Washington. During
bis presidency he favored such a plan as a great
desideratum to assist our progress.
"The National Board of Agriculture in Great
Britain," he says, "I have considered one of the
most valuable institutions of modern limes ;" and
in leply to a letter of Baron Poelnitz, suggesting
the establishing of a farm under public patron-age,
for the purpose of increasing and extending
agricultural knowledge, he expresses his solici-tude
upon the subject, but adds, "• I know not
whether I can, with propriety, do any more at
present than what I have done. I have brought
the subject, in my speech at the opening of the
present session of Congress, before the national
legislature."
This was the first message. Afier eight years'
administration of the government he renewed
the subject; and in his last message to Congress
near its close, impresses the subject nearest his
heart with zealous argument, (seldom used in his
messages.) evincing the deep solicitude he felt
in the success of his recommendation.
" It will not be doubted that, with reference
either to individual or national welfare, agricul-ture
is of primary importrnce. In proportion
as nations advance in population and other cir-cumstances
of maturity, this task becomes more
apparent and renders the cultivation of the soil
more and more an object of public patronage.
—
Institutions for promoting it grow up supported
by the public purse ; and to what object can it
be dedicated with greater propriety ? Among
i he means which have been employed to this
end, none have been attended with greater suc-cess
than the establishment of boards, composed
of proper characters, charged with collecting and
diffusing information, and enabled by premiums
and small quantity pecuniary aids to encourage
and assist a spirit of discovery and improve-ment.
This species of establishment contributes
doubly to the increase of improvement, by stim-ulating
to enterprise and experiment, and by
drawing to a common centre the results, every-where,
of individual skill and observation, and
spreading than thence over the whole nation.
Exprienee, accordingly, has shown that thev are
very cheap instruments of immense national
benefiis.
" I have heretofore proposed to the considera-tion
of Congress the expediency of establishing
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 26»
a national university, and also a military acade-my.
The desirableness of both these institu-tions
has constantly increased with every new
view I have taken of the subject, that I carfhot
omit the opportunity of, once for all, recalling
your attention to them.
"The assembly to which I address myself is
too enlightened not to be fully sensible bow
much a flourishing state of the arts and sciences
contributes to national prosperity and reputation.
True, it is that our country, much to its honor,
contains many seminaries of learning, highly re-spectable
and useful ; but the funds upon whicu
they rest are too narrow to command the ablest
professors in the different departments of liberal
knowledge for the institution contemplated,
though they would be excellent auxiliaries.
" Amongst the motives to such an institution,
the assimilation of the principles, opinions and
manners of our countrymen, by the common
education of a portion of our youth from every
quarter, well deserves attention. The more ho-mogeneous
our citizens can be made in these
particulars, the greater will be our prospect of
permanent union, <fcc."
Washington's heart was at that time, when
at the loftiest point of his elevation, still look-ing
back to the unpretending pursuit from which
he had risen to the command of armies, confed-eracies,
and finally the great modern model repub-lic.
He looked back to the soil, and that honest
industry which made it teem with blessings, ne
looked back to the productive masses that make
up the States and nation, and felt it to be the
duty of those placed by them in power to use
that power to facilitate and perfect that creative
industry which is the foundation of the prosper-ity
of the whole country. A national board or
school of agriculture, with all the advantages
which books and science could bring; with all
the assistance which philosophical apparatus and
experimental tests, applied directly to the soil,
upon the largest scale, could lend; with all the
opportunities which the cultivation of a consid-erable
domain could afford, for the introduction
of that tuition and discipline necessary to form
a practical skill and thoroughly systematized
views, in the rela:ion to the various modes of
farming, was what he contemplated.
A national school, with all these essential re"
quisites, was the great object which Washington
had at heart at the close of his life.
It is fortunate at this time that Congress, in
acting on the bequest of another far-seeing phi-lanthropist
of a foreign land, has organ /.id an
institute as a national instrument of instruction,
which can, without starting any constitutional
cavil, be employed in imparting agricultural
knowledge, not only among our own country?
men, but among men of all countries. The ex-press
injunction of Smithson's will, which Con-gress,
as a trustee, has undertaken to execute, is
" to diffuse knowledge among men." Can it be
pretended that agricultural knowledge is not
that sort of knowledge which the benevolent
friend of human progress wished to disseminate ?
The design of the utilitarian, who sought, in
transferring his wealth to a new country, where
an energetic people were scattered over a rich
but rude domain, to dedicate it to the progress
of his race, in pursuits to which they were called
by surrounding circumstances, and which were
most 1'kely to promote their prosperity, would
not exclude from the knowledge he provided for
them that on which their welfare most depend-ed.
Could he have meant, in providing for the
diffusion of knowledge among men, to provide
only for lecture-rooms for savans—for instil*
ments to repeat for t lem philosophical experi-ments
which had been taught them in schools,
and which would bring within the circle bene-fitted
some dozens of learned professors in a na-tion
? Or could the giver of the Smithson fund,
intending " to diffuse knowledge among men,"
consider his aim accomplished by gathering up
a great library for the enjoyment of the literati
who might seek in Washington food for their
studious appetites ? On the contrary, the very
phrase of the will, which enjoins "a diffusion of
knowledge among men," would seem to exclude
those who claim to be already learned in all the
abstract Sciences, so that the hi quest might be
made universally useful by dispensing knowledge
among the masses of men who have not the
time nor the means to devote to abstract schol-arship—
among that great body of men who
make up the nation,and to which the mind of man
268 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
instantly recurs and contradistinguishes from the
small class of learned professors and philosophi-cal
students.
The knowledge that Smithson would diffuse
among men must be that which would be useful
to the many, not the few. He could not hope
to diffuse among men generally the science of
Newton, Sir Humphrey I>avy, of La Place—in
a word, the abstract science of all the schools,
ancient and modern. The knowledge he wished
to diffuse would be the grand results of their
labors, as "coming home to the bosoms and bu-siness
of men." And what subject it is more
important to bring the lights of science to illus-trate
and improve, than the great leading one of
agriculture, which is the substratum of every
useful art, of all the prosperity of the country ?
The fanners of the United States have, then, a
claim, the strongest claim, that the Smithson
fund shall, at least in part, be devoted to the
purpose of increasing that knowledge, which is
of all others most useful to the world.
It has been suggested that a happy union
might be effected between that experimental
system for the improvement of farming which
the last hours of Washington's life were busied
in maturing, and the institution which has since
been founded in the city of Washington under
the bequest of the philanthropist Smithson, "to
increase and diffuse knowledge among men."
—
The farmer of Mount Vernon concentrated all
his views to make the beginning of the new
century (1800) an era from whence a progres-sive
improvement should start on his estate, that
might teach the lesson of restoring worn-out
lands and give the impulse to the indefinite in-crease
of fertility, beyond that of the original
condition of our soils.
This system he learned from his European cor-respondence,
was, will) the aid of capital, the
lights of science and of practical skdl, associated
together by boards of agriculture and farming
schools, producing such results in Europe. His
plans were laid and drawn out in elaborate writ-ten
instructions to the manager of his estate,
and he was on his horse from day to da}, riding
from farm to farm, to second, by supervision and
oral explanations, the designs he contemplated,
when he took cold from exposure in a snow
storm on the 12th of December. Tt produced
quin»y in the course of the night of the 12th'
and closed his career on the 14th in death.
—
Thus the great intellect was quenched when prac-tically
employed in the endeavor to make Mount
Vernon realize some portion of the vast scheme
of agricultural improvement which his last mes-sage
so impressively urged on Congress. What
a tribute would it be to his memory if Congress
should now take up his design, frustrated by the
hand of death, and make it immortal by select-ing
Mount Vernon as the seat of an agricultural
r-chool and model farm, uniting it, as a bianeh
to the Smithsonian Institute—the board of re-gents
forming the board of agriculture which
Washington contemplated, and the learned pro-fessors
bringing all the lights of science, aided
by experiments in the lecture-room and on the
farm, to increase agricultural knowledge and pro-vide
for its diffusion. What a monument would
Mount Vernon become over the dust of its glo-rious
founder—the founder of the republic
when redeemed again from wilderness and deso-lation
by the power and genius of his country !
It would be seen surpassing the finest cultivation
of the most perfect model farms of Europe, as
our country surpasses Europe in every useful en-terpiise,
exciting its emulation, worked by the
hands of scholars coming from the several States
of the Union, repaid for their labors by the nur-ture,
the energy and the practical skill acquired
from it, and by the science taught in the lecture-room
of the associated Smithsonian Institution
—by the inspirations of patriotism caught at the
shrine of Washington, and the emulation to
tread in his footsteps, on the very spot that fos-ti-
red his youth, and in the occupation which
fitted him to lead the nation's destinies, it would
in effect be the restoration of a patriarchal place
and its elevating influences to the children of the
Father of his country.
Watched over and cherished by the represen-ts'
ives of the several States and of the people,
and by the chief magistrate of the nation, all in-terested
to hallow the spot, to make it teem
with improvements, which imitation would
spread in the surrounding countn, and whieh
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 271
dfed dollars be paid John Hutchins for services
rpdered under the direction of the committee
arrangements, which was carried.
Dr. Wm. R. Holt, moved that $400 be paid
t. E. A. Crudup to reimburse him for expenses
icurred in the discharge of his duties, which
as carried.
Col. L. W. Humphey moved that the thanks
if the Society be tendered to those ladies who
ave assisted in decorating and attending Floral
and Reception Halls, and also that the thanks
of the Society be tendered to (he citizens of Ral-eigh
and its vicinity for their hospitality and
attention to the visitors during the Fair, which
was unanimously carried.
Mr. Rayner moved that the thanks of the
North Carolina State Agricultural Society are
due and are hereby tendered to R. H. Smith,
Esq., late President of the Society, for the 'abili-ty,
zeal, and urbanity with which he has dis-charged
the duties of his office during the past
year, and that he has our best wishes for his
prosperity and happiness.
On motion the Society adjourned sine die.
J. F. TOMPKINS,
Jtec. Secretary.
(iomttnnrinttiittt.
For the Farmer's Journal.
TO YOUNG FARMRES.
Mr. Editor : It seems natural, and is right
that a son, particularly one who is not educated,
should borrow his ideas from his parents, and
those who raises him. But, we are all liable to
err, and as the science of agriculture is advanc-ing,
he who follows in the footsteps of his fath-er
and grandfather, in finning, will be left be-hind
and be out-tripped by those who k< ep pace
with the advancement of the science. Then, as
free and intelligent men, we should follow the
good examples set us by the preceding genera-tions,
and continue their work, and hand it down
to posterity improved. We should not accept
an inheritance from them except, under the con-dition
of improving it.
It becomes then, young men, to study well
the science, the plans, the ways and doings of
our parents, and of the preceding generations
;
to understand well their characters and princi-ples
; the subjects they discussed, and disputed
about, and the conclusions which, they came to;
and the results which they transmitted to us of
the true and productive, as well as of the false
and unproductive, in order that, with due reflec-tion,
and understanding, we may embrace the
good and reject the bad.
Commencing at a new era, in the history and
philosophy of the science of agriculture, we
young men of the country, must awake up and
begin, as it were, at the beginning of the old
science regenerated and made anew, and keep up
with its advancement, and aid it all we can.
—
Were the young farmers of the present genera-tion
to adopt the plans, principles, and modes of
of culture of our fathers and forefathers, what
would be the consequence ? They would not
advance the science of agriculture one step, but
plow on in the same old I eaten tract of destruc-tion
and devastation, and live and die poor, and
hand down to posterity, an inheritance of sterile
lands, and incorrect principles, scarcely worth
receiving, and gain the censure of their children
for their labors and pains. These facts cannot
be denied.
Every one knows the force of example, ;md
how deeply rooted old customs and principles
become fixed in the minds of those wdio neither
think nor study, nor write. The sayings and
doings of the father become those of their chil-dren
and grandchildren, from generation to gen-eration.
When we see a young man with courage and
fortitude enough to date to launch out on the
stage of life on his " own hook," and adopts a
course of his own in any profession, different
from that taught him by the example of his pa-rents,
what do we hear? Either that he is a
stubborn cracked-brained fool, or else a wild
wilful, reckless fellow who is going to ruin as
fast as time and money can carry him. These
epithets, and the fiowns and censure of the
world, deter many a young farmer from making
a fortune, a reputation and a charaetrr for him-self.
If he dares to try an experiment or ad-
278 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
vaiice a new idea in agriculture, (only new to the
ignorant.) he bears the cry of humbug and book
farming.
I say then, to young farmers study well the
past and present generation of farmers, and
the old and new science of agriculture, and se-lect
that which is good and true, and reject that
which is bad and false.
Follow the examples of those who succeed by
practicing the precepts of sciences, and nut the
example of tho-e who succeed by chance and
accident: for the former will succeed the often-er,
because, his system is founded on something
substantial, on fixed and well tested principles,
and not on accident and chance. A cause will
always produce an effect, and when we work,
woik to produce a certain effect. Too manv
men read agricultural works for past time ; to
have it said, they are familiar with agricultural
literature. They too often show their knowl-edge,
(or rather ignorance) of it, by criticising
the ideas of others, and of the truths they do
not understand, and have never practiced. SncL
men do the cause of agriculture, more harm
than good ; they already knoio too much, and
unless they make a better use of their knowl-edge,
they had better keep it to themselves.
—
A word to the wise is sufficient, says the maxim.
I am pleased to learn through your columns,
that, there are a couple of young gentlemen,
(one of whom I have the honor to know,) in
the old North State, who have studied the
science of agriculture with the view of improv-ing
by it, and of adopting its precepts and
principles. Thanks to the cause of agriculture,
Messrs. E>ancy and Norflet, deserve the grati-tude
of the people of North Carolina, and of the
Smith, for the noble efforts they are making to
advance the science of agriculture in Edge-combe.
I congratulate them, and the young anrt old
men of North Carolina for the laudable efforts
of these gentlemen, to make poor land rich : to
prove to the people there are virtues in manures,
and plenty of time, and materials to make it
with, and cultivate an ordinary crop besides; to
convince them the truths of the science of agri-culture
cannot be questioned, and refuted by
the would-be.-nise-meti, who read and criticis,
and do their farming, not in the field, but b
the fireside.
Yes, they have set an example that the oh
and young may follow with profit, and benefi
to themselves. Should they not be rewardec
with good crops every year, perhaps, it is not
their fault ; if they have (.'one their duty, do not
blame them, and the science of agriculture.
—
No farmer succeeds every year, and the richest
land in the United States, often fails to make
good crops. That is the work of the Almighty,
over which we have no control. So that, never
become discouraged by casualties, but manure
on, and work ahead with hope and good will,
and you will succeed and be rewarded. No
animal or plant, ever came to maturity without
lood ; food it must have or they will dwindle
away and die. Don't fear making your land
too rich, young farmers. No land is too rich.
The richest land in America would be improved
by the proper manure. Suppose your land
makes ten barrels of corn per acre, and by the
addition of manure it will make twenty bushelo
per acre, are you not benefitted so much the
more, and less land will make your corn, and
leave more land and labor for other crops.
All the largest crops are made on rich land,
and not on poor land, we all know. But it of-ten
happens that poor land make larger crops of
cotton than rich land generally makes the larg-est
crops of grain. These facts are illustrated
in ray neighborhood eveiy year, the reasons
why, I have not the inclination to state. These
facts should not. discourage the Carolinians.
Those of us who commence our labors in the
forest with the inrgin soil, should not wear it
away and hand it down to our posterity a bar-ren
waste. What would we think of a parent
who came in possession of a large estate of tich
lands, and were to destroy it, and leave his chil-dren
poor in the possession of poor land.
Would we not censure him for his meanness)
We would. "Well, some of us have large estates
of virgin soil, and for fear, if for no other reason,
of the censure of our posterity, let us not wear
it, way, and die anil leave it as a memento of
our folly and laziness.
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 279
Let us rather improve our talents, and not
end them in idle show and luxuries, and hi
ur light under the bushel.
N. T. LORSBY.
Forkland, Ala., Sept., 1854.
ftHmilutunuH,
i
From the Standard.
Roxdoro', Person Co., N. C,
October 20, 1854,
To his Excellency, David S. Reid :
It may appear paradoxical to maintain that a
planter may diminish his crops by the use of
fertilizers, still I shall altempttoshow that such
a result is possible. Theoretically and practi-cally
the doctrine is both inieresting and im-portant.
It is founded upon principles which 1
have had occasion to state while speaking of
manures and fertilizers. The doctrine alluded
to is based upon two facts, viz : That each plant
requires certain inorganic elements for its growth
and pe'fection of seed, and that the most im-portant
of these elements exist in the soil only
in smaller proportions. Now a plant, in certain
respects, is like an animal. If a young or an
old animal is supplied with a large quantity of
food its growth is promoted, or its fat accumu-lates.
This is the case if the food contains all
the elements of nutrition. It is not the case,
however, if one or more of them are wanting.
—
In the case ofayoung animal, for example, the
milk which is the natural food, contains in its
normal condition every element which the sys-tem
requires ; but if the milk should be deficient
in phosphate of lime or phosphoric acij, the
animal could not grow, or if it did grow by
means of a small amount of phosphoric acid Di-phosphate
of lime, the bones would be soft and
flexible. But this is not the point I am attempt-ing
to prove or elucidate, and the allusion is
made merely for the purpose of stating the fact,
that in the food of both animals and plants
there is a speciality which should he remember-ed
by all planters and stock growers. But plants
are unlike animals in certain respects ; their
mouths, for instance, are placed in a magazine
of food, but this magazine may contain a rich
supply of others; but enough of all the present
elements of nutrition and a very scanty supply
of others; but enough of all the present to en-sure
the growth of the plant and perfection of
the seed. If now the planter resorts to the use
of the mineral fertilizers, as plaster, the result
will be for the first two or three years a great-er
growth of herbage as well as a greater
increase of fruit or seed. If this magazine of
food (the soil) contains a small quantity only
of phosphate of lime, the employment of pias-ter
or sulphate of lime puts the plant in a con-dition
*o use and take up a larger amount of
phosphate of lime than it could, provided this
mineral had not been employed. If this mag-azine
contained phosphate of lime which would
have lasted ten years with no fertilizer, it will
not last more than five with it. By the use
of this fertilizer the root is increased in extent,
and, to speak figuratively, the number of mouths
formed to take up food is proportional'}' increas-ed
also, and hence, the store house is move rapid-ly
exhausted.
We have now ai rived at the point where we
can see the consequences which accrue from the
use of mineral fertilizers; the elements of food
which exist in small quantities ouly, become ex-hausted
in a short period under this system of
cultivation, and as every plant must have every-one
of the elements of nutrition for the perfec-tion
of seed, the time soon comes when seed
cannot be perfected for the want of one element.
The general effect of such a system of culture is
seen at onee, and yet the planter may persevere
in it, for he saw in the beginning most gratifying
results; his crops may be doubled, and in order
to keep up, and perhaps attempt to increase the
production still more, supplies his favorite fer-tilizer
in greater quantities, though he may have
seen after the second and third year that its em-ployment
did not turn out so favorably as at
Brit. This result may be attributed to the sea-on,
it was too wet or too dry, ton hot or too
:old. or to any cause but the right one. The
neighbors say he has killed his :-oil by the use
of plaster, but the true philo-ophy is, he has ex-hausted
prematurely and unnecessarily, one of
280 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
tli", essential elements of fertility. It is evident
enough he can no longer use plaster—lie must
find out what has become deficient in the
soil. There is no such thing as killing a soil or
mining it; it is a simple exhaustion of one or
two elements. What those lacking elements are
must be found out, and the remedy becomes a
simple, application or restoration of what has
been injudiciously removed. What is true of
gypsum is equally true of guano. The propor-tion
of inorganic matter in this vaiicty is much
smaller relatively than in the Mexican. It is
highly active upon worn out soils, producing
heavy crops of the cereals for the first year.
The continued use of this kiud of guano alone
for a succession of years brings about that con-dition
of the soil I have alluded to, or according
to the expressive phrase of planters, the soil is
killed. It may be inquired here, if these are the
results of plaster and Peruvian guano, what are
they good for ? I answer they are the prepar-atives
for a good system of husbandry, and are
designed to save time. They bring about in one
year what would require four or five by the or-dinary
means, as the use of green crops or even
stable manure. The soil is brought at once in
a condition to produce, but it is Hot by a re-ap-plication
of the same fertilizer, even guano.—
Now, the planter may use his straw, his clover
crop, or his stable manure to keep up the fertili-ty
of his soil, and why? It is because these
contain a greater variety or number of the ele-ments
of food which the plant requires. The
intelligent English farmer applies lime largely
at once; by this, he obtains a stock in trade to
go on—he borrows largely for once, and by it is
enabled, if he understands the principles of hus-bandry,
to pay back what he has borrowed.
—
But he would not think of paying back in lime
that would ruin him ; but he is now prepared for
the use of theslower or more organic and inorganic
fertilizers combined, and by their use he may go
on without killing his soil. So, guano is to be
used once to save time and prepare the way for
less active fertilizers. The vender of this article
will tell a different story, for it is a perishable ar-ticle
and must be sold the first season ; but the
intelligent farmer will fiud that he can go on
successfully by one application and save his fi-teen
dollars per ton for other purposes.
Most respectfully, yours, ike,
'
E. EMMONS,
Slate Geologist
From tlio Working Farmer.
Preservation of Fruits ami Vegetables for
Winter Usci
There are advantages derivable from scienti-fic
attainments which are sufficient to compen-sate
for the lime and attention bestowed in their
acquirement, e\en though pecuniary or material
gain be, literally, the only end for which they
are studied. It is certainly necessary for wryea
and daughters to cultivate an acquaintance with
the more poetical accomplishments which serve
to grace life, and render the condition of man
blessed, but while these are being done, there
are other duties which should not be left un-done.
The importance of learning some of the great
lessons taught in chemistry, and applying them
to domestic economy, is every day rendered
more apparant. So many of the normal condi-tions
of life are dependent on them, that their
deficiency is immediately perceived in any
household, by the incomplete development and
generally unhealthy aspect of its inmates. There
are many improvements in this way which
could be suggested, but the limits of this com-munication
forbids it now. There are many
simple works on such subjects which might be
studied with profit.
While we enjoy the present with its cornu-copian
supply of good things, we should cer-tainly
think of the approaching days of Old
Jack Frost, when nature dismantled of her ver-dure,
will quietly repose, tili again resuscitated
by the genial warmth of a succeeding spring.
How grateful then woull be the appearance on
our tables of some of those choice products of
the field of which we have now "enough and to
spare!" and yet, any household mother who
would take the trouble, could learn to preserve
them so as to be used at any future time.
It is a property of all organic substances to
fermeiit'or decompose when certain conditions
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 281
lich are essential to that process are present
e most important of these conditions are the
esence of heat, moisture, and atmospheric air.
h the absence of any of them fermentation
ould not proceed. If, for instance, one condi-
.ion, heat, be removed, by exposing the fermen-able
substance to an atmosphere, the tempera-ture
of which is not above the freezing point, it
would not decompose, that is, in the sense in
which the term is generally accep'ed. Still, in
a few instances, a species of decomposition does
really proceed.* Some fruits in such situations
will seem to preserve all their original qualities,
while they have indeed lost that which is most
prized, their favor.
Another process is that of drying at a high
temperature. Like that above, it has also ob-jectionable
points. In France and other con-tiguous
countries where it is most practiced, in
many instances, it answers well ; but when the
articles are taken to very moist countries, such
as on .the Isthmus of Panama, success is still
more limited, as our experience has proved.
By the total exclusion of the atmosphere
from contact with the substance, together with
another antiseptic condition about to be noted,
we know from observation, no impediment to
the substance be etfeotualiy preserved.
But even in this instance, we have been as-sured
by men, in whose judgment and experi-ence
we confide implicitly, that the qualities of
some Fruits and Vegetables are not without de-terioration.
The tendency of organic matter to decompo-sition
has been discovered to be temporarily
suspended by heating to the boiling point.
—
Every dairymaid is familiar with the fact, that
boiling milk daily, she can thereby preserve it
for any period. By taking advantage of this
circumstance, and also that of excluding atmos-pheric
air, any one can succeed in providing an
abundance of fruits and vegetables for winter
use.
For this purpose a boiler of adequate capaci-ty
is provided. The substance to be preserved
being prepared, are put up carefully in wide
mouth bottles, the interstices being filled by any
suitable liquor provided for the purpose, leav-ing
only sufficient space between the lip of the
bottle and its contents as will admit the cork.
It would be convenient to place in the boiler a
perforated false bottom or shelf, affording a level
surface on which the bottles could rest, and
thereby also obviating the necessity of their be-ing
in too much proximity to the more heated
surface of the true bottom. The bottles are then
put in along with cold water, which should be
within an inch and a half of covering them.
—
They are then removed one at a time, corked
perfectly air tight, aud tied or wired down ; af-ter
which they may be entirely immersed. The
boiling is then continued until they are heated
to the temperature of 212 degrees throughout,
which generally effected in about three hours.
The bottles are then removed and sealed down, so
as to be rendered more perfectly air-tight. They
should not be introduced while cold into boil-ing
water, as the consequent sudden expansion
of the glass would cause them to break. Ano-ther
precaution is further necessary : vegetable
color is soon decomposed by light, to provide
against which, the bottles should be wrapped in
dark paper or packed away in boxes. By this
process any one would be provided with the
luxuries of summer all the year, and without
any appreciable additional outlay.
Let however the experiment be tried, observ-ing
directions, which are doubtless simple and
easily understood, and let further practice de-pend
on the success of the undertaking.
R C.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE CHIEF CROPS
OF THE SOUTH !
Corn and cotton in the cotton planting States
have, by common custom, become the universal
crops of extensive cultivation. How far this
shift is correct, is not entirely proved by its uni-versality,
nor by the prejudices which sustain it
in the minds of planters, Indian corn, indigen-ous
to the soil, was perhaps the most convenient
and profitable when the country was first settled,
and when an abundant and easily prepared crop,
to supply the wants of both man and beast, was
a requirement of the times. In this relative
value, it still is the most valuable cropi grown on
282 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
the virgin soils of the Middle and Southern of
the Western States, for it luxuriates upon the
Vegetable matter abounding in new soil, and
with little preparation and indifferent culture,
yields large returns for labor hes. owed. Such
however, is not the case in the older States,
where the cream of the land has been sto'en
away imperceptibly by the most exhausting
system to which tilled soil has ever been sub-jected
; and taking ten years' cropping together.
the Indian corn crop is the most uncertain we
can plant. It is difficult to grow en any but
vi.ifin or alluvial soil, and droughts of summer
except in extraordinary and most favorable sea-sons
cut it off to ruinous extent. The corn crib
is cal'ed the store house of the planter in the
South, and indeed it is his main dependence.
—
But this is only because he is not accustomed to
interweave other crops with the cultivation of
cotton. On improved and well prepared soil
barley and wheat would yield more bushels of
grain of more value to the planter than Indian
com. In fact, barley is the most valuable grain
which we cultivate at the South. If sown at
the proper season, it readily perfccls itself from
the winter moisture in the earth, and yields
heavily. It is fine soiling for all kinds of stock,
and comes into harvest in May, a time when a
few days can be spared from the cotton crop
without detriment to its growth or production.
Its grain is so well protected, that it is not liable
to be spoilt by exposure to the weather, and it
may lie any length of time in the straw, when
dryly housed, without being injured. A barley
crop sown with guano, cotton seed, or well pre-pared
compost manure, after the cotton crop is
gathered in December and January, would come
off sufficiently early to sow the stubble down in
pc s lo be turned under in autumn, and the ro-tation
of small grain with this system pursued,
would be the best and most efficient mode of im-proving
our lands. It would also be fitted to
the economical and ea*y cultivation of the after
cotton crop, by the plowing under of the her.
bage in the fall, which would be thoroughly de-composed
by the next spring.
Barley, gound aid mixed w'th straw, reduc-ed
to chaff by a cutting machine, is better food
for horses and cattle than any preparation of 'n-dian
corn, and to those persons who have lot
mills, simply soaking the grain in water is afne
preparation for foeding to horses. Swine fatfcn
and keep in condition more easily on barliy
than on corn. As a conclusive argument in is
favor, more barley can be cheaply grown on ai
acre of improved dry upland, than we can grov
of corn. Wheat, sown with guana in like man-ner
after the cotton crop, would come in at t
season when the harvesting could be attended to
without detriment, and after the cotton crop is
laid by, and in the interval between that time
and the commencement of picking, the thresh-ing
and preparing it for market or the mill
could be attended to without hindrance. The
middlings, shorts and bran of a large wheat crop
all mixed together, would go far to feed the
plantation stock, and negroes would relish wheat-en
bread as a change for the corn bread usually
allowed to them.
We would, from these few reasons stated, and
many more needless to mention, recommend the
reduction of the corn crop to such a degree as
would throw all lands not naturally producing
Indian corn well, into wheat, barley, rye and oats.
We cou d then cultivate our titled crops well
and easily, and the avenues for system Would
open for improvement would soon repay for the
experiment. We know that these recommenda-tions
will be met by all the objections which
prejudice and the tyranny of custom engender
in those who cleave to old practices and theo-ries,
but as they are convictions of true policy,
we have no hesitation in making them.
—
South-ern
Agriculturist.
"FINK PROSPECT FOR HAY."
While riding by a field the other day which
looked as rich and green as a New England
meadow, we observed to a man sitting o i the
fe ice. "Yon have a tine prospect for hay, neigh-bor."
"Hay ! that's cotton, sir," said he with
an emotion that betrayed an excitement which
we cared to ptov. ke no further; for we had as
soon spoit with a rattles .ake in the blind days
of August, as a farmer, at this season of the
year, badly in the grass. We return er on«
TIIE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 283
to lave witnessed almost a fight between a cou-plrfof
neighbors on this vitally delicate matter.
Neighbor U happening to be a little ahead
in/his onslaught upon Gen. Greene, came pass-ong
by the field of neighbor D and
'scovered him digging far below the level of
e rich green sward that waved around, when
ailed out in a loud tone, Hallo! The
/nan in the field raised himself slowly, and think-ug
he was called to the fence on a matter of
special and important business, with a face arti-ficially
pleasant, started, when II remarked
with a smile of wicked fun, "please don't let the
snakes bite me." The momentary gleam which
enlivened I) 's face was followed by 9 thun-der
cloud of looks, and nothing but the advan-tage
of distance saved II from a hoe helve
examination ofliis cranium; for the muttering
echoes of poor I) 's voice came rolling over,
mixed with profane accents, and diabolical
insinuations. H- vamosed, declaring it w; s
the last lime that he would ever joke a man
hopelessly struggling with the grass. In this
latitude, just now, poking sticks at a yellow
jacket's nest would be as refreshing.
All jesting aside, we have never known so
poor a prospect for cotton in this region. In
some instances the fields are clean and well
worked, but the cotlon is diminutive in size, and
sickly in appearance. We have seen some fields
so foul, that it was almost impossible to tell
what had been planted. In our limited obser-vations,
we arc convinced that the best looking
cotton, is on new ground. Cotton blooms are
generally common with us about 1st of July,
but we have seen no stalk as yet, that can make
a flower by that time ; unless like Jonas' gourd,
it can run up in a few nights.
All this backwardness is attributable to the
cold, wet weather that we have had almost con-stantly
since the planting season commenced.
—
When there was a warm spell, it was raining so
that plows could not run to say advantage ; so,
between the cold and the rain, the cotton crop
is very unpromising.
Corn is generally good ; Oats remarkably
fine; Wheat (which has been harvested) "sor-ry."
The low flat lands, this year, have suffer, d
particularly. Thoroughly saturated all the
time, and often overflowed, the crops on ilu-in
are small and sickly, while the weeds and crass
are luxuriant and rank.
A week or two of dry hot weather will make
a wonderlul change in our agricultural prospects,
but we have no idea that any sort of seasons
could bring the cotton to more than an average
crop.
—
Hernando (Alias.) Advance.
Apples as Food for Stock.
In some sections of the country the apple crop
may make up for the deficiency in com and po-tatoes.
Apples are plentiful and of uncommon
fairness. Good varieties, of long-keeping quali-ties,
will bring the producer remunerating pri-ces.
But in some instances autumn fruit may
be so abundant as to make it expedient to feed
:t to live stock on the farm, rather than to dis-pose
of it in market at very low rates. And in
all cases there wiil be more or less—as windfalls,
or such as from defects are unsaleable—uh'ch
may be fed to animals with advantage. Cider
being now ignored to a great degree, the use of
apples for making meat may be expected to
increase.
As swine-food, apples have long been known
to possss considerable value, though sweet ones
have been chiefly preferred for this purpcse.
But this preference appears to have been given
without sufficient grounds. When swine are
fed with apples in a raw state, they will gene-rally
indicate their choice of sweet over sour
ones by first eating the former. This will be
more particularly the case if the apples are in
an unripe state, and the sour ones very sour.
—
But if swine running in the orchard are allow-ed
to select themselves, they will always eat
ripe apples in preference to unripe, and will not
coufine their eating to sweet varieties, provided
good ones of a sub-acid flavor can be obtained.
But in regard to the relative value of sweet
and sour apples, in a similar state of ripeness, we
are not without results of a positive character.
A very observing and careful ffirij or, the late
Payne Wingate, of Hallovvell, Maine, made
some valuable experiments on tLe subject.
284 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
He found that when swine were fed willi raw
apples, sweet ones were best, the animal's teeth
appearing to be made sore by the acid ones;
but when both were cooked there was no differ-ence
in the gain, as ascertained by weighing the
pigs produced by an equal quantity of each.
—
Mr. W. also made experimeu's to show the val-ue
of apples as compared with potatoes. The
apples and potatoes were boiled (in as little wa-ter
as practicable) separately, and about four
quarts of oat and pea meal mixed with each
bushel, at the time the cooking was finished, the
meal being partially cooked by stirring it in with
the potatoes and apples while they were hot,
and the mass left to ferment, slightly, before it
was fed out. Two pigs of the same litter, and
nearly of the same weight, were fed for a week,
one on a given quantity of the apples and meal,
and the other on the same quantity of potatoes
and meal. At the end of the week the pigs
were weighed, and the food was reversed, the
pig which had been fed with apples was fed for
a week on potatoes, and vice versa. Their food
was changed in this manner for several weeks,
each pig being weighed at the week's end. The
result showed that the apples were fully equal
or somewhat superior to the potatoes.
Okra fob Printing Paper.—The Baltimore
Ledger of a late date, has the following: The
growing demand for printing paper, and the pre-sent
high prices of the article, rendered it neces-sary
that some new material should be brought
into use, which from its abundance and cheap-ness
may recommend it to the favor of the man-ufacturer.
To this end, every experiment should
be tried that they may lead to the discovery of
the article so much desired. In the Southern
and Western States, south of the thirtieth degree
of latitude, a garden plant is grown from which
printing paper may be manufactured in greater
quantities and of a finer quality than is made
from all the materials now used in the manu-facture
of that article. The value of this mate-rial
as a substitute for hemp has already been
tested, with results highly satisfactory.
The plant flourishes best in damp soils and a
humid atraosphere. Under the most advanta-geous
circumstances it grows from six to tn feet
in height, and will yield several tons to th acre.
The stem, like hemp, requires to be strippi of
its bark, leaving a core of a beautiful whitqiess,
with a fibre of the full length of the plant,very
strong and pliable. Experiments on a linited
scale have recently been made with it, in the
manufacture of a cloth used for bagging, vita
very favorable results. In texture it bears scne
resemblance to Manilla, though is not so harh
and is more readily converted into pulp. It m.y
be sown broadcast, requires no cultivation, ripen
in a few months and gives an immense yield.—
The process of stripping it of its bark is simpb
and expeditious, and may be performed bv tl»
ordinary mode of threshing.
The plant referred to, (says the New Orlear*
Bulletin,) is the common Okra of the SouiL
which can be grown in inexhaustible quantitet
We have seen specimens of hemp manufacture!
from it, as well as small quantities of the dresi-ed
fibre. WT
hat we saw was long, white anl
strong, and seemed well calculated to make e -
cellent rope. We do not see why it will o>t
make good paper. Will not some enterprisitg
individual try the experiment ? It is certaiuV
worth the trial.
Bush your Tomatoes.—It is just as sensite
(P grow pens without hushing them, as it is t>-
matos. You may grow both in a slovenly sot
of a way, if you have plenty of room on te
ground ; but you can grow either twice as will
upon something to support them, and lomajs
are decidedly better grown up in the air thn
near the ground, under the shade of a massof
vines. The best support for a tomato vine iia
short bush set firmly in the ground. Te
branches have room to spiead among and su-port
the fruit. The plan is much better thn
tying to stakes and trimming, according to or
experience. We have tried both ways. Te
ave ever3r season, for the last four or five yeas
offered this advice to all growers of this valu-ble.
Bushing will increase the product neaiy
one half— will give larger fruit, and it will kep
sound much longer on the vines.
—
Oermanlo>n
Telegraph.
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 273
should be grown. In order that tiie next year's
corn, or otlier lioed crop may derive the greater
advantage from the pea crop, it would be best to
apply lime, or ashes, to the green crop before
turning it under, which would greatly tend to
hasten decomposition. Besides being a very
useful crop as a fertilizer, the pea should be used
as an important crop for stock. When used for
this purpose it had better be sown with the
corn crop. Hogs are the kin J of stock which
profit most from the use of the pea, it being the
fact that may farmers depend almost solely up-on
the cultivation of the pea for the raising of
their poik. There is much less injury done to
the land where hogs are allowed lo run upon a
pea crop than any other kind of stock, for the
reason that they are not apt to eat the vine like
cattle and horses. Where the land is so low as
to require ditching, and hogs are allowed to run
upon it they will to some extent fill up the
ditches and injure the field, but not to such an
extent as to counterbalance the advantage to the
hogs from the eating of the peas. Many farm-ers
coutend that it will pay well to cultivate the
pea as food for stock even though they are ga-thered
by hand and cooked and fed to them in
cose pens. This, no doubt, is true, provided
the proper attention is paid to the collection of
materials to use in the peu for making manure.
We are firmly of the opinion that the pea crop
is of the greatest importance to the Southern
planter, and should be extensively cultivated
both with a view to the improvement of the soil
as well as for food for stock. It has been truly
said that it is the clover of the South, and it
should be so considered. There is no part of
our Slate that the pea crop may not be success-fully
cultivated even from the mountains, to the
sea-hoard, and all that is wanting to make it a
Universal crop in our State, is to do away with
some unreasonable prejudices in regard to it.
DRAINAGE OF LANDS, &c.
It has occurred to us that there is no better
and quicker way of increasing the individual as
well as national wealth of our State, than by
establishing a system under the management of
our State government for the draining of lands
belonging to individuals, If not at present, the
time is close at hand when North Carolina will
and must become a real agricultural country, and
in as much as this is the case, it is highly impor-tant
that every means possible be used to elevate
and improve the farming interest. It is a well
known fact that a very large number of the far-mers
of our State are, and have been cultivating
lands, which they know are not sufficiently
drained in order that they may produce such
crops as they would produce, if such draiuage
was effected as may be needed. This being the
fact, it will be readily seen that a certain portion
of the labor of the farmer every year is /ost on
this account, lo say nothing of the prominent
injury done the land. What we propose, is that
any farmer who may wish his land more tho-loughly
drained than it is at present, and who
does not feel able to lay out the money necessa-ry
to do it himself, be allowed upon these condi-tions
to have his land drained by Ob State. The
plan by which this is to be done, ts one which
cannot injure the Stale at all, but will, in buu-dr"
ds of instances enable the poor man who has a
large body of good land to drain it, which at
present is worthless, thuugh if drained, would be
highly valuable. The plan for the drainage of
lauds by the State, we propose to be something
like this : Where a man wishes his land drained,
let him make application to the commissioners
on drainage in each county, who shall be ap-pointed
by the State, (say three or more) and
let them determine what will be the cost of the
drainage of the man's farm, and, if after their
determination the owner of the land agrees, let
this land be mortgaged to the State for the
amount required to drain it, and that the owner
of the land be required to pay annually so much
of the principal, and the interest from the in-creased
product of his farm resulting from the
draining of the land. In this way the individu-al
wealth of the State would be givatly increas-ed,
which of course, would increase taxation
upon the value of the land, greatly add to the
revenue of the State. There would, in this plan,
be no possible loss to the State, but only aiding
a citizen by becoming security, at the same lime
taking a mortgage upon the property sufficient
2 74 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
to cover all losses. Why may not such a bill
be introduced before the next Legislature ? If it
were, it surely would not fail to pass, and in a
short time the people of the State would be
struck with the efficacy of the plan. Thorough
drainage of land is the basis of agricultural im-provement,
and if this plan were adopted, there
are thousands of acres of land which at present
are valueless, which would then be drained.
prof7emmons; letter.
We call the particular attention of our read-ers
to the letter of Prof. Emmons to Gov. Reid;
published in this number of our paper. Those
who have, read the Farmer's Journal attentively
will recollect that we have some lime since ad-vanced
the same opinion with regard to guano
as Dr. Emmons does in this letter. We have
ever been of the opinion that it should be used
rather as a basis of improvement or as Dr. E.>
says as prepsshtive for the use of other manures,
such as the Tarmer can procure upon the farm.
Tais opinion of Dr. Emmons, based upon such
plain reasoning will surely cause the farmers of
the State to purchase less guano, and turn their
attention to the raising of more manure upon
the farm. The very same opinion which was
derived from experience, was by dm. Jones, in
regard to guano, in his essay read before the
Maryland Agricultural Society. He said that
where it was used actively for a succession of
years, it caused the soil to become close and dead)
to use a common terra. We think that farmers
would find it to their advantage to use guano
more in the comp >st heap, especially the Peruvi-an
guano, and also to use the Mexican and Pe-ruvian
in combination with each other, a plan
which we have also suggested before. It is high"
ly important, that farmers should apply larger
quantities of manure to smaller quantities of
land by which means they will have much move
time to make manure, for the reason that they
make a large product upon a smad tract of land
allowing so much more time to attend to collect-ing
mateiials for the barn yard, and other places
for making compost.
Paters which fail to reach Subscribehs,
We, as well as other editors, sometimes receive
letters from persons stating that they have sub-scribed
for the " Fanner's Journal," and have
not received it, and wish to know if we are re-solved
to cheat them out of their money. Now
any reasonable man, if he will think for a mo-ment,
he must see at once that it is greatly to
the interest of every publisher of a newspaper,
that every subscriber should be supplied. So
that when a subscriber hereafter (ails to get our
paper we beg them to attribute the fault where
it lies, at the doors of our Post masters, we do
uot mean all.
The Cover ox ouii Paper.-—We have abol-ished
the cover on the Farmer's Journal, which
costs us a great deal, as it has been suggested
by many subscribers that it would look better
without it. We hope that as we are resolved
to improve the reading matter of our paper that
this alteration will make no difference with our
subscribers.
% €. itnte %irnltornl Mfy
PROCEEDINGS
Of the North Carolina State Agricultural So-ciety,
at the Second Annual Meeting, held in
Raleigh, October ldth, 1854.
The North Carolina State Agricultural Socie-ty
met in the Commons Hall, in the Capitol, on
Monday evening the 16th of October, 1854, pur-suant
to adjournment, the President, R. H.
Smith, Esq., in the Chair. The proceedings of
the last annual meeting were read by the Secre-tary,
after which Dr. Tompkins, moved that those
persons present who are not members of the So-ciety
be allowed to come forward and join.
Dr. E. A. Crudup moved that the President
appoint a committee of five for the purpose of
revising the constitution and bye-laws of the
Society, which being adopted, the President ap-p.
inted the following gentleman': Dr. E. A.
Crudup, J. II. [laugh ton^ J. S. Daney, Dr. W.
R Holt and Dr. J. F. Tompkins.
There being no further business before the
Society; S. W. Whiting, Esq., moved an ad-journment
until 7 12 o'clock, P. M , on Tues-
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 275
day evening tlic 17th instant, which was unani-mously
carried.
Tuesday Evening, Oct. IV.
The N. C. State Agricultural Society met in
the Commons Hall according to previous ad-journment,
the President R. H. Smith, Esq., in
the Chair. The proceedings of the last meet-ing
were read.
The Caswell county Agricultural Society,
through Col. E. P. Jones, presented a memorial
asking the State Agricultural Society to post-pone
the holding of the annual Fairs, which
was on motion referred to the committee to re-vise
the constitution and by-laws of the society.
Henry Elliot, E-q., moved that a committee
of five be appointed to prepare a memorial and
resolutions to lay before the next Legislature
upon the subject of dogs, and report at the meet-ing
of the Society on Thursday evening, which
was carried, and the following gentlemen ap-pointed
for this purpose : Henry Elliot, Hon.
Thomas Ruffin, Hon. K. ESy.ner, Dr. Win. R.
Holt and R. H. Burgwin.
There being no farther business before the
Society, it was moved and seconded that the
Society adjourn until Wednesday evening the
18th insfe to meet in the Commons Hall at 7
1-2 o'clock, P. M.
Wednesday Evening, Oct. 18th.
The N. C. State Agricultural Society met in
the Commons Hall half after seven o'clock, P.
M., according to adjournment ; the President,
R. Smith, E-q, in the chair. The proceedings
of the preeeeding meeting were read and ap-proved.
The election of officers being the first busi-ness
in order, the following gentlemen were
nominated and unanimously elected :
Hon. THOMAS RUFFIN, of Alamance,
President; Hon. A. W. Venable, first Vice
Bhsiderit; Doet. Wm. R. Holt, second" Vice
President ; Doct. E. A. Crudup, third Vice Pres-ident
; R. R. Bridget's, fourth Vice President;
Doct. J. F. Tompkins, Recording Secretary ; T.
J. Lemay, Corresponding Secretary, J. F. Hutch-ins
Treasurer.
Mr. Branch moved that a committee of two
be appointed by the chair to inform the Hon.
Thomas Ruffin of his election to the office of
President of the Society and solicit his accep-tance
of the same. The chair appointed L. 0.
I!. Branch and Major Charles L. Hinton to dis-charge
the duties of said committee.
J. S. Bridgers, Esq., moved that those persons
present as delegates from 'other Agricultural So-cieties
be invited to take seats with the mem-bers
of the Society, and participate in its pro-ceedings,
which was carried.
Dr. E. A. Crudup moved that the committee
on the revision of the constitution be instructed
to inquire into and report upon the propriety of
establishing life membership in the Society and
upon what terms, which was carried.
W. II. Jones moved that a committee of two
be appointed to examine and report on to-mor-row
evening upon the accounts of the Treasur-er
of the Society, which was carried, and W. H.
Jones, and F. C. Hill were appointed.
There being no further business before the
Society, it was moved that the views of mem-bers
of the Society upon practical agriculture be
given, which was sanctioned, and R. R Bridgers,
H. Elliot, Judge Ruffin, R. H. Smith, H. R.
Burgwin, J. S. Dancy, Dr. E. A Crudup and
the Hon. A. W. Venable, made some very ap-propriate
and highly interesting remarks, which
were received with much satisfaction by the So-ciety.
There being nothing further before the Socie-ty
it was moved and seconded that the Society-adjourn
until Thursday evening the 3 0th inst,
at 7 Ii2 o'clock, p. m., which was carried.
Thursday Evening, Oct. 19.
The N. C. State Agricultural Society met ac-cording
to previous adjournment in the Com-mons
Hall at 7 1-2 o'clock, p. m., the Piesiden*
R. II. Smith, Esq., in the chair.
Tin- proceedings the of la^t meeting were, read
and approved.
The committee to whom was referred the '""e-morial
and resolutions to the LogislaUire upon
the subject of dogs, submitleJ through their
276 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
chairman, the lion. TIios. Ruffin, of Alamance
county, the following report:*
Major Wm. A. Eaton, moved that the roport
of the committee on dogs be adopted, which
was carried.
Dr. Win. R. Holt moved that two hundred
copies of the memorial to the Legislature ho
printed and sent to the members previous to the
meeting of the Legislature, which was adopted.
Henry Elliott moved that J. H. Haughton,
Hon. K. Rayner, W. W. Whilaker and R. H.
Smith, be appointed a committee to present the
above memorial to the Legislature, which was
carried.
The President, upon motion, appointed the
following delegates to attend the Fairs at Peters-buig,
Norfolk and Richmond.
Delegates to the Petersburg Fair are, C. L.
Hinton, Esq., Dr. R. C. Pritehard, W. A. Eaton,
Jere. Nixon, and Dr. L. W. Batehelor.
Delegates to the Norfolk Fair are, R. A. Hamil-ton,
Lewis Thompson, W. S. Hill, J. S. Dancy,
and G. W. Collier. E. H. Smith was added to
the list of delegates.
Delegates to the Richmond Fair are, Hon.
Thomas Ruffin, Hon. K. Rayner, J. S. Bridgers,
H. Elliott and H. K. Burgwin.
On motion the President appointed the fol-lowing
committees for the next year.
Committee on Reception, L. O'B. Branch, G.
W. Morel ecui and the Hon. K. Rayner.
Committee to invite a speaker to deliver the
next annual address before the Society, R. A.
Hamilton, R. R, Bridgers, and Dr. R. U. Priteh-ard.
The coinmitte to confer with other agricultu-ral
societies as to the best time of holding the
annual Fairs in the future, are, II. K. Burgwin,
and J. S. Bridgers.
The committee appointed to examine accounts
of the Treasurer, J. F. Hutchins, Esq., reported
through their chairman, S. W. Whiting, that
his accounts were all correct and that there is at
his time in the treasury, $4,3S6 40 subject to
the order of the Society. .
* The report being before the Legislature it could not
be obtained for publication.
There being nothing further before the Socie-ty,
it was moved and seconded that lite Society
adjourn to meet on Friday evening the 20th of
October, at V 1-2 oclock, P. M.
Friday Evening, Oct. 20th.
The North Carolina State Agricultural Socie-ty
met according to adjournment, in the Com-mons
Hall, the President, R. H. Smith, Esq., in
the chair. The proceedings of the preceding
meeting were read aud approved.
The President appointed the following com-mittees
:
The Executive Committee, Dr. E. A. Crudup,
Wm. A. Eaton, W. W. Whitaker, J. F. Taylor,
J. C. McRae, Wm. R. Pool, S. W. Whiting, W.
1). Cooke, R. A. Hamilton, D. MeDaniel, W. H.
Jones, Needham Price, J. F. Jordan and J. C.
Partridge.
Committee of Arrangements, Dr. E. A. Cru-up,
chairmain, W. A. Eaton, W. W. Whitaker,
Wm. R. Pool, Needham Price, S. W. Whiting
W. II. Jones, J. F. Jordan, J. C. McRae, and
J. F. Taylor.
Gen. J. B. Littlejobn, Chief Marshal.
S. Hayes, 1st Assistant,
Col. II. J. B. Clark, 2d
J. Averitt, Jr., 3d "
Col. II. T. Clark, 4th "
J. H. Yarborough, 5th "
Mr. Collins moved that the Sccreiary send a
copy of Mr. Rayiier's address to each member
of the Society, which was carried.
On motion, the President appointed the fol-lowing
gentlemen to attend as delegates the
next annual meeting of the United States Agri-cultural
Society in Washington city : Hon,
Thomas Ruffin, Hon. K. Rayner, II. K. Burgwin,
Lewis Thompson—aud on motion of Col. Clark,
of Warreu, the name of the President of the
Society was added to the list.
\\.- D. Cooke moved that the thanks of the
Society be tendered to Jno. Hutchins, Esq., for
the zeal and ability manifested by him in the
superintendance of the buildings upon the Fair
Grounds, which motion was unanimously car-ried.
Jere. Nixon moved that the sum of one hun-
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 285
Preserving Bacon from the Fly.—I am
induced by motives which every housekeeper
• will appreciate, to commii'iieate through your
valuable journal the following effectual and sim-ple
method of preserving bacon from injury by
the fly or skipper.
When your bacon is smoked early in the
spring before the fly has made its appearance,
take quick lime slaked to a dry powder, and rub
the meat thoroughly on every part with it, leav-ing
it to adhere as much as possible; hang up
your meat, and rest secure from any trouble
from insects.
I have tried the above method (communicated
to me by an experienced housekeeper) and so
well satisfied am I with the experiment, that I
consider it of sufficient importance to be made
public. I have tried many other means for pre-serving
meat from the fly, but this is the only
certain remedy I have ever yet found.
Very truly yours,
AUG. SHRIVEN,
in American Farmer-
Sore Backs.—A correspondent at a distance
writes as follows, which may prove serviceable
to some of our readers :—" If your horse is
troubled with a sore or galled back, rub with
lead, softened to a paste with linseed oil, on the
injured part, till the sore is completely covered.
Some recommend for this purpose a solution of
vitriol in water ; but the former remedy is far
preferable, and, on the whole, more certain to
effect a cure. I have known ba ' galls entirely
healed and cured by it in a few days. Wounds
on any part of the animal, if not deep and of a
serious character, are greatly eased and disposed
to heal rapidly by this application. Try it."
—
Germantown Telegraph.
How to get Rid of Rats.—Professor Bas-com,
of Oberlin, in a letter to the Ohio Farmer,
says:—"The large brown rat often visits my
laboratory and other premises. As they come
singly, I take off each,' the night after I discover
signs of his presence, in this wise :—I take half a
teaspoonful of dry flour or Indian meal on a
plate or piece of board, and sprinkle over it the
fraction of a grain of strychnine. This is set in
a convenient place, and I invariably find the
culprit near the spot dead in the morning. The
peculiar advantage of this poison is, it produces
muscular spasms, which prevent the animal
from reaching his hole to lie and decompose. It
is needless to add that such a violent poison
should be used with care."
Cabbage Worms.—John Farrar, one of the
most practical farmers in the State, says these
destructive insects may be destroyed in the fol-lowing
easy and simple way :
" Break off a large leaf from the bottom of
the cabbage, and place on the top upper side
down. Do this in the evening and in the morn-ing
you will find near or quite all the worms on
each cabbage have taken up their quarters on
this leaf. Take off the leaf and kill them, or
feed them to the chickens, and place the leap
back if there be any more to catch.
Pickles.—An excellent way to make pickles
that will keep a year or more is—drop them
into boiling hot water, but not boil them ; let
them stay ten minutes, wipe them dry, and drop
into cold spiced vinegar, and they will not need
to be put into salt and water. The above is my
•wife's rule, which she has proved to be a good
one.
Cement to Resist Fire and Water.—Half
a pint of new milk, and half a pint of good vine-gar.
Stir them together until the milk coagu-lates
; remove the curd, and mix with the whey
the whites of five eggs, well beaten up ; when
these are well mixed, add sifted quick-lime, un-til
the whole is about as thick as putty. If this
mixture be fully applied and properly dried, it
will firmly join what is broken, or fill up cracks
of any kind, and will resist fire and water.
To Keep Corn.—The only way to keep
sweet corn of any variety for winter use, is to
partially cook and then dry it ; or put it in a
close jar, or other tight vessel. Corn nicelv
kept in this way, is very good, as we had abund
anlly tested, years before the Stowell corn was
ever heard of.
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
About Fences.— In reply to an inquiry of a
correspondent, the editor of the Massachusetts
Ploughman gives the following interesting facts :
Boards will last a long while when well support-ed
by posts. See the boards of eighty years on
old barns and out-buildings. Posts last a vast
deal longer in wet soils than in dry, sandy
loams—longer in clay than in the richest soil.
In peat meadows the bottoms of posts hold out
longer than the tops and rails. On dry soils
posts should be charred, and if the owner would
be at the trouble of placing a few ashes around
each post, he would preserve them twice as long-as
without ashes. Lime also is good to preserve
wood, though farmers sometimes use it to hasten
the rotting of c impost heaps.
To Farmers.—The Hartford Times, mentions
a farmer who took up a fence alter it had been
standing fourteen years, and found some of the
posts nearly sound and others rotted off at the
bottom. Looking for the cause, he discovered
that the posts which had been inverted from the
way they grew, were solid, and those which had
been set as they grew rotted off. This is cer-tainly
an incident worthy of being noted by our
farmers.
The Butterfly Plant.—The National In-telligencer
says that a specimen of the singular
and beautiful Butterfly Plant is now in bloom
at the National Green-house in Washington,
District of Columbia. The blossoms are very
large and yellow, with reddish brown spots, and
are niDved to and fro with every breath of air,
so as to resemble very much the gaudy insect
from which it derives its name. The plant was
brought from the Island of St. Thomas in the
United States frigate Raiitan.
Moth in Wool. —A recent writer in the
English Agricultural Journal recommends the
vapor of spirits of turpentine a< a remedy for
moth in wool. The turpentine should not be
placed upon the wool, but left in open dishes in
same apartment.
Foot Rot in Sheep.—The application of
double distilled vinegar and sublimate of mer-cury,
is said to act as remedy for foot rot in
sheep.
NORTH CAROLINA INSTITUTION FOR THE
Deaf and Dumb and the Blind.—The Sessions of
this Institution will hereafter commence on the First (iaj -.
of September of each year, and continue ten months.
This change has been made in order to bring the va
tions into the months ol July and August, which,
account ol the heat of that season, are less adapted to
study than the other months. It also brings t]ie Q
mencement oi the School to the season when the ShBl
oi the different counties are coming in to make theU
returns, thus affording a good opportunity lor parent* U)
send their children.
The following are the Officers

VOL. 3. RALEIGH, I. C, DECEMBER, 1854. NO. 9.
JOHN F. TOMPKINS, M. D., Editor.
• From the American Farmer.
AN ESSAY
On the Culture and Management of Tobacco-,
by w. w. w. BOWIE,
Of Prince George County, Mel.
In the preparation of this Essay, the author
admits frankly that lie has ava led himself of
the expei i'-nce of many successful Planters,
whose practice and example he had endeavored
for years to follow; and he has also availed him-self
of much of the matter in his former Essays
on this subject, having seen since they were
written, nothing to change his views therein ex-
; pressed in regard to the culture of this great
.'staple of Maryland. And he would state mere-
'ly by way of giving foice and character to his
Suggestions, that it is well known in the com.
nnmity in which he lives, that from his boyhood
lie has been familiar with the growing and gen-
.eral management of Tobacco; and for fifteen
years part has himself extensively cultivated it.
With these preliminary remarks he will endeav-or
to give a plain, succinct and intelligible ac-count
of that culture and management of To-bacco
which he deems the best system for plan-ners
to pursue, keeping in view successively the
points desired to be touched upon, as set forth
in the terms of the liberal offer of Mr. Jose Joa-chim
DeArietta, in the American Farmer for Sep-tember,
1853.
1st. and 2d.—How to raise the best seed.
—
What, if any, preparation is to be subjected to?
The earliest and largest plants should be se-lected
for seed. One hundred plants will give
over a peck of seed. T\v : ce as many should be
turned out as may be needed, so that after they
are in full flower or bloom, the plants of the
whole may be chosen and the rest broken off.
If the grower wishes to raise fine, light, yellow
tobacco, he ought to select plants that grow-quick,
with leaves small stemmed and far apart
in the stalk, such as the "Pear Tree" Tobacco.
If he wishes to raise heavy crops to the acre
and most of it curing a fine red, he should se-lect
such plants as are broad and long leaved
set close together on the stalk with large stems
and thick leaf, such as the " Wilson " or the
"Broad-leaf Thick-set" or like kinds. These
tobaccoes, if ripe, will cure a pretty red and sal-mon-
color, and in the sample will be like kid
pliant and glossy, smooth and soft to the touch
if properly managed. After the seed pods have
fully developed themselves it should be pruned
and then when the pods have turned brown and
begin to open, each head should be cut off and
hung up to dry under cover until it can be rub-bed
out; then pass it through a fine seive so as
to get the seed clean, and it requires no further
preparation. The seed should be kept perfectly
dry. By pruning, is meant the lopping off all
the small, defective or indifferent pods thai are
258 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
found on the head, leaving only a sufficient
number of wt-11 formed, large pods to mature,
so that ihe whole strength of the plant may he
concentrated in perfecting them alone.
3d. and 4th.
—
The nursery and the beat way
to insure its existence.
A rich loam is the soil for Tobacco plants.
—
The spot selected for a bed, should be the south-side
of a gentle elevation as well protected as
possible by woods or shrubbery—a warm spot
—mellow ground, perfectly pulverized. Afur
it has been thoroughly burned with bush, dig
deep, and continue to dig, rake and chop until
every clod, root and stone be removed, theirleve!
and pulverize nicely with the rake. When
about half prepared, sow over it Guano, at the
rate of 600 lbs. to the acre, or fine ground bones
at the rate of twenty bushels to the acre, or half
the quantity mixed with well rotted stable ma
nure. By the after preparation this becomes
well intermixed with the soil. Mix one gill of
seed for every ten yards square, with a gallon of
dry plaster or dry sifted ashes, to every half pint
of seed, and sow it regularly, in the same man-ner
that gardeners sow small seeds, only with a
heaviei Land. Roll with a hand roller or tramp
with the f;efc. If tie bed he sown early in the
season, it ought to be cove", d with leafless bush.
but it is not necessary to covi/r them after the
middle of March, in this climate. Tobacco beds
may be sown at any time • ming winter if the
ground be not frozen or two wet. It is safest
'to sow it at intervals, whenever the land is in
' good order for working—never sow unless the
land be in good order, for the work will be
thrown away, if the land be too moi9t, or be
not pe ectly prepared. The beds must be kept
free from grass and w«eds, until they are no
longer needed, and the grass must be picked out
a s rig at a time by the • ngers. It is a tedi-ous
operation, therefore planters should be very
careful not to use any manures on their beds
which have grass so. ds or weeds in them. After
the plants are up, they should receive a -top-dressing
once every week or ten days, of manure
•own broadcast by the hand ; this should be a
compost composed in the following proportions
:
1-2 bushel of unleached aslxs,
1 bushel of fresh virgin wood's earth,
4 lbs. of pulverized sulphur,
1 2 gallon of plaster,
1 quart of salt dissolved in two gallons of
liquid manure from the barn-ynrd-—-the whole
well intermixed. Let a large quantity be pre-pared
in 'he autumn previous, and put up in
barrels, out of the weather, for use when want-ed.
If possible the plants should stand in
the bed from half an inch to one inch apart, and
if they are too thick, they may bo thin-ned
while inching the grass out, or they
may be raked out, when they have be-come
generally the size of a five or ten cent
piece. The rake proper for the purpose should
be a small common rake, with iron teeth, very
sharp, curved at the points, and three inches
long: teeth fiat, and three-eighths of an inch
wide, and set half an inch apart. The plants
that are pulled out by the rake must be taken
off the bed, or they will Uke again.
5th. and 6th
—
Method of transplanting.—
Preparation of the soil—description of Imple-ments,
etc.
The soil best adapted to the growth of To-bacco
is light friable soil, or what is commonly
called a sandy loam, not, too flat, but rolling, un-dulating
land—not liable to drown in excessive
rains. New land is far better than old.
The land intended for Tobacco should bo well
ploughed early in the spring, taking care to
turn the turf completely wn lor, nd stibsoiling
any portion that may be very stiff, or likely to
hold water near the surface, and let the land be
well harrowed soon after the breaking it up; it
should then bo kept clem, light at d 11 pul-verised,
by occasional working with cu'tivators
and large harrows, so as not t > disturb the turf
beneath the surface. When the plants are of good
size for transplanting, and the ground in good
order for their reception, the land or so much as
can be planted in a "season," (that is, while
wet) shou'd be " scraped," which is dine by
running parallel furrows with a small seeding
plow, (the Prouty and Meats' No. 2 1-2 for in-stance,
two and a half or three feet apart, then
crossi y .t . s gun at right angles, preserving
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 259
the same thstance, which leaves the ground di-vided
in ehekcs or squares of two and a half or
three feet each. The hoes are then put to work
and the hill is formed by drawing the two front
angles of the square into the hollow or middle
and then smoothed off on top so as to form a
i broad fiat hill about six inches high, then patted
with one blow of the hoe to compress the centre
of the hill, and cause a slight depression so as to
collect water about the plant. The first fine rain
thereafter, the plants should be removed from
the seed beds, and one carefully plantid in each
hill. A brisk man can plant 10,000 plants per
day. The smaller or weaker bands, with baskets
filled with plants, precede the planters and drop
the plants on llie hills.
In dialing' the plants from the bed, and in
carrying (hern to the ground, great care ou.:ht
to-be taken not to bruise or mash th>in. They
Bhould be put in baskets or barre's, if hauled in
carts, so that not many will be in a heap togeth-er.
The plants should never be planted deeper
than when they stood in the bed. Planting is
performed by taking the plant dropt on the hill
with the left hand, while the root is straitened
with the right, and one finger of the right hand
makes a hole in the centre of the hill, and the
root of the plant inserted with the left hand
the dirt is well cl >sed about the roots by press-ing
the forefinger and thumb of the right h„rnl
on each sid ol the plant, la'.ing car tuot
the earth well about the botto 11 of :l e roots.
—
If sticks 1 e used io plant with they should be
short, and the planter particular not to make the
holes too deep. The plains should be very care,
fully planted, for if the roots be put in e t up.
'or crooke 1, the plant rary i.-. , out will never
flourish, an I pel haps when too late to replant
it will die, and then all the labor will have been
mi no avail. In duej or four d.-ys it may be
wed out, that is, the hoes are passed near the
plants, and the hard cui^t formed on the hills
pulled away, and the edges of the hills puled
down in the furrows ; this is easily done if per-formed
soon after the planting, but if delayed,
and the ground gets grassy it fill be found to
be a very troublesome operation. After the
weeding out, put a table-spoonful of plaster of
Paris, (or a gill or plaster and ashes unleached,
well mixed together would be preferable) upon
each hill. In a few clays—say a week or a less
lime, run a small plow through it, going twice
in a row. This is a delicate operation, and re-quires
a steady horse and a skillful ploughman,
for without i real care the plants will be knock-ed
up or be killed by the working. The bar of
the plow should be run next to the plants. Tn
a week after, the " Tobacco Cultivator? or single
shovel, must be used. These implements are
well made by R. Sinclair, Jr. & Co., and other
Agricultural Implement makers of Baltimore.
—
Either implement is valuable at this stage of the
crop. Once in a row is often enough for the
shovel cultivator to pass. The crop can now be
made with their use, by working the tobacco
once a week or ten days, for four or five weeks,
going each time across the former working. Any
grass growing near the plants should be pulled
out by hand. As soon as the tobacco has be-come
too large to work without injuring the
leaves by the swingle-tree, the hand hoes should
pass through it, drawing earth to the plants
where required, and level ridges caused by the
cultivator or shovel. Let this hoeing be well
done, and the crop wants no more working.
Care should be taken to leave the land as lsvel
us possible, for level culture is generally the best.
As soon as it blossoms, or the buds are fairly
out, and the seed plants selected, all the rest
should be " topt " as soon as the blossom" ii
fairly formed. Do not wait for it to bloom, for
the hornblowers will be attracted by the flowers.
It should be topt down to the leaves that are six
inches long, if early in the season, but if late,
top still lower. If the season be favorable, in
two weeks ; fter a plant has been topt, it will be
fit for "cutting," yet it will not suffer by >taud
ing longer in the fields. From this stage of the
crop until it is in the house, it is a source of
great solicitude to the Planter. He is fearful
of storms, frost and worms, his worst enemy
they come now in crowds. The "suckers" are lo
be pulled off and " ground leaves " saved. The
•' suckers " ought to be pulled off as soon as
they get two or three inches long; they spring
out abundantly from each leaf where it is set off
260 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
the stalk. "Ground-leaves" fire those leaves at
the bottom of the plant which become dry on
the stalk, and ought to be gathered early in the
morning when they will not crumble.
When it is ripe enough for the house, it is
cut off close to the ground by turning up the
bottom leaves and striking with a sharp tobacco
knife, formed of an old scythe—such as are used
for cutting corn, or some persons have knives
made, like butchers' cleavers. Let it lay on the
ground for a short time to "fall" or wilt, and
then pick it up in shoulder turns, and carry it to
the tobacco house, when it may be put away in
three different modes, by "peging," "spearing"
and by "splitting." "Peging" Tobacco is the
neatest and best mode, yet the slowest. Tt is
done by driving little pegs, about six inches
long, and half an inch or less square, into the
stalk, and these pegs are driven in with a small
mallet in a slanting direction, so as to hook on
the sticks in the house. It is then put on a
"horse" which by a rope fixed to one coiner, is
pulled up in the house by hand, or by block and
teakle, and then hung on the sticks, which are
regulated to proper distances. A "tobacco horse''
is nothing more than three small sticks nailed
together so as to form a triangle, each side be-ing
three or four feet long. Spearing is the
plan I pursue, because it is the quickest plan.
—
A rough block with a hole morticed in it, and a
fork inserted a few inches from the hole, for the
tobacco stick to rest upon, one end being in the
hole, with a spear on the other end of the. stick,
is all the apparatus required. The plant is then
with both hands run over the spear, and thus
strung upon the stick—which when full is taken
to the house and hung up at once. There are
round spears, and dart-spears, like in form to
the Indian arrow heads,—hollow of course to
admit the sharpened end of the stick.
" Splitting" tobacco is admired by many who
contend that makes it cjre quicker and brighter
certainly quicker, and less likely to house burn,
or injure from too thick hanging. The mode is
easily pursued by simply splitting the stalk
standing in the field, with a knife made for the
purpose. The stalk is split from the top to a
few inches of the bottom, some days before cut-ting
the tobacco for housing—care should be
taken not to break the leaves while splitting.—
The knife may be fully described by saying it is
a miniature spade. It can be easily made, in-serting
a pari of an old scythe blade in a cleft
oak handle, with its edges bevelled off to the
blade, so that it will act as a wedge to the de-scending
knife. After it has been split, cut
down and carried to the house, it is straddled on
the sticks, which are placed in forks for greater
convenience in stringing it on the sticks—and is
then hungup in the house
—
Tobucco sticks, are
small round sticks, or are split out like laths, one
or one and a half inches square, usually larger
at one end than the other, and ought to be eight
or ten inches longer than the joists of the tobac-co
house are wide apart.
If the tobacco is of good size, six or seven
plants are enough on a four foot stick. When
first hungup, the sticks should be a foot of fif-teen
inches apart. As the tobacco cures they
may be pushed up closer. After the houfe is
filled and has yellowed, some planters put large
fires under it, which dries it at once, increasing
its brightness somewhat, but "firing" imparts a
smoke-smell and taste which is objectionable to
buyers. The better plan is to have sufficient
house-room, and hang it thin in houses not too
large, which have windows and doors so as to
admit light and dry air, and by closing them in
bad weather, exclude hard winds, and the damp-ness,
by which it is materially injured in color
and otherwise damaged. After becoming well
cured, the stem of the leaf being from sap, the
first mild damp spell of weather, it will become
pliant, and then may be stript off the stalk. It
is first pulled or taken off the sticks and laid in
piles, then the leaves are stript off and tied in
bundles, of about one fifth or one sixth of a
pound each. The bundle is formed by wrapping
a leaf around the head or upper part of the
handful of leaves, for about four inches, and
tucking the end of the leaf in the middle of th«
bundle by way of confining it. There ought, i
the quality of the crop will permit, be four sorti
of tobacco, " yellow" " bright," " dull" an<
^'second" When the tobacco is taken down th
'' cullers " take each plant and pull oft" the defec
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 269
the annual swarms of educated youth from its
industrious hive would carry with them to the
remotest parts, Mount Vernon would renew
throughout the world its benignant influence!
put on the aspect of that glory which lies now
buried in its bosom, and become again a source
of joy to the immortal mind it nursed, if the
unbodied soul can take an interest in sublunary
things once dear to it. For the living surely,
and to all future generations of the living, it
would be pregnant with blessings, and not only
to those deriving immediate instruction in the
first and best business of life, but all the pil-grims
of every nation on earth that may, through
successive ages, visit the sepulchre of the apoi
tie of liberty, would carry away with its patri-otic
inspiration a sense of the value of tuition in
the art which creates personal independence and
imparts the vigor of mind and body essential to
the maintenance of political freedom.
The principal professor of the Smithsonian
Institution (Mr. Henry) has been consulted in
reference to its becoming the nucleus of the
agricultural establishment here proposed. He
does not consider the funds at its disposal more
than sufficient to accomplish what he considers
the main object in which it is now engaged, and
to add to the assistance it now gives incidental-ly
to agricultural instruction, the advantage of a
course of annual lectures on the subject. With
the aid of the appropriation which Congress
makes every session for the benefit of agricul-
•ture, in the shape of Patent Office reports, &c,
&c, the whole system of instruction contem-plated
for the agricultural school might be car-ried
out through the agency of the Smithsonian
Institution ; its regents becoming the board of
agriculture, to which Washington looked as the
instrument of so much good, and Mount Ver-non
as the model farm (worked by the students
like those of Europe conducted on a similar plan)
I supporting them by its products.
The purchase of the farm, and the construc-tion
of tenements settle in the earth before the plants
are stuck. Some prefer to do this work early
in the morning before the sun is an hour high.
To insure their living, it would be well to have
grass, such as clover, cut early in the morning
when moist with dew, and drop a handful on
each plant, planted the evening before or the
same morning. This keeps the ground moi&t,
and shades the plant until it takes root, and
before any bad effect could be produced upon
the plant by lying upon it. the grass or clover
dry up as the plant gradual y increased in \igor,
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 265
and in a few days it could scarcely be seen,'
while by its protective shading, the plants would
be green and growing, and capable of resisting
the scorching rays of the sun. Where water is
convenient to the tobacco field, the hands would
after a little practice average four or five hun-dred
plauts each evening. Thus ten hands
could plant twenty-five or thirty thousand
weekly ; but the water must be near and easily
obtained. In such situations where general ir-rigation
of the field could be made, there is no
doubt, but the best effects would be produced-
If properly irrigated, not too much water, but
frequent applications when the ear:h was dry
and wanting rain, the tobacco would grow quick
and mature early, two things that invariably
produce a fine article, if the weather should
prove favorable for the curing.
Here closes this humble effort. If it prove
beneficial to the grower of tobacco, the author
will feel happy, and rejoice that therein he finds
his highest reward.
November 24, 1853.
From the American Farmer.
In the Senate of the United States, Mr. Mor-ton
made the following report
The Committee on Agriculture, toxuhom was refer-red
thememorial of the Maryland State Agri-cultural
Society, submit the following report:
That they have had under consideration the
said memorial, (which, it appears, has been
adopted by the United States Agricultural Soci-ety,
recently convened in the city of Washing-ton,)
proposing the establishment of an agricul-tural
school and experimental farm at Mount
Vernon, under the auspices of the general gov-ernment,
and approve the design of the memo-rialists,
and ask for it the favorable consideration
of the Senate.
The United States, while they lead the civili-zation
of the age in almost every other useful
art, are far in the rear of the rival States of Eu-rope
in that which relates to husbandry. Eng-land,
Scotland, and Ireland, France, Germany,
an-1 even the minor States of the continent, have
agricultural schools, with experimental farms at-tached,
to blend science and practical skill in
forming a model system of .cultivation. A sys-tematic
education is deemed indispensable to im-prove
the art of husbandry, as it is found essen-tial
to impart progress in every other pursuit of
civilized life. We have no schools of agricul-ture,
and receive only from report and very re-mote
example the impulse which has led to re-newed
efforts in this country, to imitate the cul-livation
abroad that has, in some degree, redeem-ed
it firm the rudeness which threatened to con-demn
us to perpetual inferiority.
The longing in the public mind for scientific
teaching and experimental proof and example,
which contrast the improvement of Europe so
strongly with ours, is so generally manifested that
Congress has attempted to gratify it, by pub-lishing
annually, at great expense, gleanings on
agricultural subjects, gathered by the Commis-sioner
of Patents, and by scattering seeds of va-rious
kinds among the farmers of the country.
This effort on the part of Congress, although
well received, evidently does not satisfy its con-stituents.
The innumerable agricultural socie-ties
springing up everywhere, and the multitude
of agricultural journals, all express the general
desire in favor of some head and system, to
make a model school of instruction, which will
beget similar institutions in the States, through
those taught in it. The contribution Congress
now makes to advance the husbandry of the na-tion
is evideully not properly directed; for it
leaves the public unsatisfied and restless in re-gard
to the aid afforded by government to ad-vance
the great art upon which its wealth and
power mainly depend. The committee think,
whatever Congress attempts to do in a matter of
such magnitude, it ought to do well. It exerts its
power liberally to promote and protect the com-merce
of the country. Military and naval scliooh
are the small part of the machinery devoted to
that object. Manufactures have had millions
on millions lavished, in indirect bounties, to es-tablish
them. Our Patent Office, and its appen-dages,
constitute •- government establishment to
advance, by the large bonus derived through
[latent rights on every good invention in mechan-ics,
the interest of the class engaged in that
species of national industry- Cofy-rights pro-
£60 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
vide rt numeration to slimilate literary labor.
—
Yet the government does nothing to < mbodv
intelligence and give it direction to assist the
efforts of individuals in the greatest business of
life, and that which should be the greatest care
cf government.
The committee would recommend the memo-rial
of the State Agricultural Society of Mary-land,
supported by that if the United Stat s, to
the favorable consideration of the Senate, as pre-senting
a plan well calculated to fill, what al
admit to be a great void amid the institutions o'
the country. It recommends an appropriation
to be placed at the disposal of the President,
and applied at his discretion, to purchase Mount
Vernon, to be converted into an experimental
f.im, connected with an agricultural school, and
both to be attached either to the Smithsonian
Institution or Patent Office, and to receive from
the coritroling authority of the one with which
it may be assciated, an organization in analogy,
(so far as difference in objects allows,) like that
of the West Point Academy, under the War
Department; the plan when matured to be sub-mitted
to Congress for modification and adop-tion.
The committee, in further elucidation i f its
vie-^s, submit the said memorial, which contains
the recommendations of Washington upon the
subject, as a part of this report, and ask that it
be printed herewith.
MEMORIAL.
To tkt> Congress of the United States ofAmerica:
The Maryland State Agricultural Society,
(through its coin mil tee, appointed at its last gen-eral
meeting,) beg leave to submit the veiws cn-tertaii
e I by it in relation to the improvement
of agriculture, and to solicit for the plan propos-ed
in the n emorial presented in its behalf the
favorable consideration of Congress.
The Smithsonian Institution at Washington,
has been spoken ol as a seminary, around which
might spring up that national boa'd or school
of agriculture, with an experimental farm an-nexed,
contemplated by Washington. During
bis presidency he favored such a plan as a great
desideratum to assist our progress.
"The National Board of Agriculture in Great
Britain," he says, "I have considered one of the
most valuable institutions of modern limes ;" and
in leply to a letter of Baron Poelnitz, suggesting
the establishing of a farm under public patron-age,
for the purpose of increasing and extending
agricultural knowledge, he expresses his solici-tude
upon the subject, but adds, "• I know not
whether I can, with propriety, do any more at
present than what I have done. I have brought
the subject, in my speech at the opening of the
present session of Congress, before the national
legislature."
This was the first message. Afier eight years'
administration of the government he renewed
the subject; and in his last message to Congress
near its close, impresses the subject nearest his
heart with zealous argument, (seldom used in his
messages.) evincing the deep solicitude he felt
in the success of his recommendation.
" It will not be doubted that, with reference
either to individual or national welfare, agricul-ture
is of primary importrnce. In proportion
as nations advance in population and other cir-cumstances
of maturity, this task becomes more
apparent and renders the cultivation of the soil
more and more an object of public patronage.
—
Institutions for promoting it grow up supported
by the public purse ; and to what object can it
be dedicated with greater propriety ? Among
i he means which have been employed to this
end, none have been attended with greater suc-cess
than the establishment of boards, composed
of proper characters, charged with collecting and
diffusing information, and enabled by premiums
and small quantity pecuniary aids to encourage
and assist a spirit of discovery and improve-ment.
This species of establishment contributes
doubly to the increase of improvement, by stim-ulating
to enterprise and experiment, and by
drawing to a common centre the results, every-where,
of individual skill and observation, and
spreading than thence over the whole nation.
Exprienee, accordingly, has shown that thev are
very cheap instruments of immense national
benefiis.
" I have heretofore proposed to the considera-tion
of Congress the expediency of establishing
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 26»
a national university, and also a military acade-my.
The desirableness of both these institu-tions
has constantly increased with every new
view I have taken of the subject, that I carfhot
omit the opportunity of, once for all, recalling
your attention to them.
"The assembly to which I address myself is
too enlightened not to be fully sensible bow
much a flourishing state of the arts and sciences
contributes to national prosperity and reputation.
True, it is that our country, much to its honor,
contains many seminaries of learning, highly re-spectable
and useful ; but the funds upon whicu
they rest are too narrow to command the ablest
professors in the different departments of liberal
knowledge for the institution contemplated,
though they would be excellent auxiliaries.
" Amongst the motives to such an institution,
the assimilation of the principles, opinions and
manners of our countrymen, by the common
education of a portion of our youth from every
quarter, well deserves attention. The more ho-mogeneous
our citizens can be made in these
particulars, the greater will be our prospect of
permanent union, avy, of La Place—in
a word, the abstract science of all the schools,
ancient and modern. The knowledge he wished
to diffuse would be the grand results of their
labors, as "coming home to the bosoms and bu-siness
of men." And what subject it is more
important to bring the lights of science to illus-trate
and improve, than the great leading one of
agriculture, which is the substratum of every
useful art, of all the prosperity of the country ?
The fanners of the United States have, then, a
claim, the strongest claim, that the Smithson
fund shall, at least in part, be devoted to the
purpose of increasing that knowledge, which is
of all others most useful to the world.
It has been suggested that a happy union
might be effected between that experimental
system for the improvement of farming which
the last hours of Washington's life were busied
in maturing, and the institution which has since
been founded in the city of Washington under
the bequest of the philanthropist Smithson, "to
increase and diffuse knowledge among men."
—
The farmer of Mount Vernon concentrated all
his views to make the beginning of the new
century (1800) an era from whence a progres-sive
improvement should start on his estate, that
might teach the lesson of restoring worn-out
lands and give the impulse to the indefinite in-crease
of fertility, beyond that of the original
condition of our soils.
This system he learned from his European cor-respondence,
was, will) the aid of capital, the
lights of science and of practical skdl, associated
together by boards of agriculture and farming
schools, producing such results in Europe. His
plans were laid and drawn out in elaborate writ-ten
instructions to the manager of his estate,
and he was on his horse from day to da}, riding
from farm to farm, to second, by supervision and
oral explanations, the designs he contemplated,
when he took cold from exposure in a snow
storm on the 12th of December. Tt produced
quin»y in the course of the night of the 12th'
and closed his career on the 14th in death.
—
Thus the great intellect was quenched when prac-tically
employed in the endeavor to make Mount
Vernon realize some portion of the vast scheme
of agricultural improvement which his last mes-sage
so impressively urged on Congress. What
a tribute would it be to his memory if Congress
should now take up his design, frustrated by the
hand of death, and make it immortal by select-ing
Mount Vernon as the seat of an agricultural
r-chool and model farm, uniting it, as a bianeh
to the Smithsonian Institute—the board of re-gents
forming the board of agriculture which
Washington contemplated, and the learned pro-fessors
bringing all the lights of science, aided
by experiments in the lecture-room and on the
farm, to increase agricultural knowledge and pro-vide
for its diffusion. What a monument would
Mount Vernon become over the dust of its glo-rious
founder—the founder of the republic
when redeemed again from wilderness and deso-lation
by the power and genius of his country !
It would be seen surpassing the finest cultivation
of the most perfect model farms of Europe, as
our country surpasses Europe in every useful en-terpiise,
exciting its emulation, worked by the
hands of scholars coming from the several States
of the Union, repaid for their labors by the nur-ture,
the energy and the practical skill acquired
from it, and by the science taught in the lecture-room
of the associated Smithsonian Institution
—by the inspirations of patriotism caught at the
shrine of Washington, and the emulation to
tread in his footsteps, on the very spot that fos-ti-
red his youth, and in the occupation which
fitted him to lead the nation's destinies, it would
in effect be the restoration of a patriarchal place
and its elevating influences to the children of the
Father of his country.
Watched over and cherished by the represen-ts'
ives of the several States and of the people,
and by the chief magistrate of the nation, all in-terested
to hallow the spot, to make it teem
with improvements, which imitation would
spread in the surrounding countn, and whieh
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 271
dfed dollars be paid John Hutchins for services
rpdered under the direction of the committee
arrangements, which was carried.
Dr. Wm. R. Holt, moved that $400 be paid
t. E. A. Crudup to reimburse him for expenses
icurred in the discharge of his duties, which
as carried.
Col. L. W. Humphey moved that the thanks
if the Society be tendered to those ladies who
ave assisted in decorating and attending Floral
and Reception Halls, and also that the thanks
of the Society be tendered to (he citizens of Ral-eigh
and its vicinity for their hospitality and
attention to the visitors during the Fair, which
was unanimously carried.
Mr. Rayner moved that the thanks of the
North Carolina State Agricultural Society are
due and are hereby tendered to R. H. Smith,
Esq., late President of the Society, for the 'abili-ty,
zeal, and urbanity with which he has dis-charged
the duties of his office during the past
year, and that he has our best wishes for his
prosperity and happiness.
On motion the Society adjourned sine die.
J. F. TOMPKINS,
Jtec. Secretary.
(iomttnnrinttiittt.
For the Farmer's Journal.
TO YOUNG FARMRES.
Mr. Editor : It seems natural, and is right
that a son, particularly one who is not educated,
should borrow his ideas from his parents, and
those who raises him. But, we are all liable to
err, and as the science of agriculture is advanc-ing,
he who follows in the footsteps of his fath-er
and grandfather, in finning, will be left be-hind
and be out-tripped by those who k< ep pace
with the advancement of the science. Then, as
free and intelligent men, we should follow the
good examples set us by the preceding genera-tions,
and continue their work, and hand it down
to posterity improved. We should not accept
an inheritance from them except, under the con-dition
of improving it.
It becomes then, young men, to study well
the science, the plans, the ways and doings of
our parents, and of the preceding generations
;
to understand well their characters and princi-ples
; the subjects they discussed, and disputed
about, and the conclusions which, they came to;
and the results which they transmitted to us of
the true and productive, as well as of the false
and unproductive, in order that, with due reflec-tion,
and understanding, we may embrace the
good and reject the bad.
Commencing at a new era, in the history and
philosophy of the science of agriculture, we
young men of the country, must awake up and
begin, as it were, at the beginning of the old
science regenerated and made anew, and keep up
with its advancement, and aid it all we can.
—
Were the young farmers of the present genera-tion
to adopt the plans, principles, and modes of
of culture of our fathers and forefathers, what
would be the consequence ? They would not
advance the science of agriculture one step, but
plow on in the same old I eaten tract of destruc-tion
and devastation, and live and die poor, and
hand down to posterity, an inheritance of sterile
lands, and incorrect principles, scarcely worth
receiving, and gain the censure of their children
for their labors and pains. These facts cannot
be denied.
Every one knows the force of example, ;md
how deeply rooted old customs and principles
become fixed in the minds of those wdio neither
think nor study, nor write. The sayings and
doings of the father become those of their chil-dren
and grandchildren, from generation to gen-eration.
When we see a young man with courage and
fortitude enough to date to launch out on the
stage of life on his " own hook," and adopts a
course of his own in any profession, different
from that taught him by the example of his pa-rents,
what do we hear? Either that he is a
stubborn cracked-brained fool, or else a wild
wilful, reckless fellow who is going to ruin as
fast as time and money can carry him. These
epithets, and the fiowns and censure of the
world, deter many a young farmer from making
a fortune, a reputation and a charaetrr for him-self.
If he dares to try an experiment or ad-
278 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
vaiice a new idea in agriculture, (only new to the
ignorant.) he bears the cry of humbug and book
farming.
I say then, to young farmers study well the
past and present generation of farmers, and
the old and new science of agriculture, and se-lect
that which is good and true, and reject that
which is bad and false.
Follow the examples of those who succeed by
practicing the precepts of sciences, and nut the
example of tho-e who succeed by chance and
accident: for the former will succeed the often-er,
because, his system is founded on something
substantial, on fixed and well tested principles,
and not on accident and chance. A cause will
always produce an effect, and when we work,
woik to produce a certain effect. Too manv
men read agricultural works for past time ; to
have it said, they are familiar with agricultural
literature. They too often show their knowl-edge,
(or rather ignorance) of it, by criticising
the ideas of others, and of the truths they do
not understand, and have never practiced. SncL
men do the cause of agriculture, more harm
than good ; they already knoio too much, and
unless they make a better use of their knowl-edge,
they had better keep it to themselves.
—
A word to the wise is sufficient, says the maxim.
I am pleased to learn through your columns,
that, there are a couple of young gentlemen,
(one of whom I have the honor to know,) in
the old North State, who have studied the
science of agriculture with the view of improv-ing
by it, and of adopting its precepts and
principles. Thanks to the cause of agriculture,
Messrs. E>ancy and Norflet, deserve the grati-tude
of the people of North Carolina, and of the
Smith, for the noble efforts they are making to
advance the science of agriculture in Edge-combe.
I congratulate them, and the young anrt old
men of North Carolina for the laudable efforts
of these gentlemen, to make poor land rich : to
prove to the people there are virtues in manures,
and plenty of time, and materials to make it
with, and cultivate an ordinary crop besides; to
convince them the truths of the science of agri-culture
cannot be questioned, and refuted by
the would-be.-nise-meti, who read and criticis,
and do their farming, not in the field, but b
the fireside.
Yes, they have set an example that the oh
and young may follow with profit, and benefi
to themselves. Should they not be rewardec
with good crops every year, perhaps, it is not
their fault ; if they have (.'one their duty, do not
blame them, and the science of agriculture.
—
No farmer succeeds every year, and the richest
land in the United States, often fails to make
good crops. That is the work of the Almighty,
over which we have no control. So that, never
become discouraged by casualties, but manure
on, and work ahead with hope and good will,
and you will succeed and be rewarded. No
animal or plant, ever came to maturity without
lood ; food it must have or they will dwindle
away and die. Don't fear making your land
too rich, young farmers. No land is too rich.
The richest land in America would be improved
by the proper manure. Suppose your land
makes ten barrels of corn per acre, and by the
addition of manure it will make twenty bushelo
per acre, are you not benefitted so much the
more, and less land will make your corn, and
leave more land and labor for other crops.
All the largest crops are made on rich land,
and not on poor land, we all know. But it of-ten
happens that poor land make larger crops of
cotton than rich land generally makes the larg-est
crops of grain. These facts are illustrated
in ray neighborhood eveiy year, the reasons
why, I have not the inclination to state. These
facts should not. discourage the Carolinians.
Those of us who commence our labors in the
forest with the inrgin soil, should not wear it
away and hand it down to our posterity a bar-ren
waste. What would we think of a parent
who came in possession of a large estate of tich
lands, and were to destroy it, and leave his chil-dren
poor in the possession of poor land.
Would we not censure him for his meanness)
We would. "Well, some of us have large estates
of virgin soil, and for fear, if for no other reason,
of the censure of our posterity, let us not wear
it, way, and die anil leave it as a memento of
our folly and laziness.
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 279
Let us rather improve our talents, and not
end them in idle show and luxuries, and hi
ur light under the bushel.
N. T. LORSBY.
Forkland, Ala., Sept., 1854.
ftHmilutunuH,
i
From the Standard.
Roxdoro', Person Co., N. C,
October 20, 1854,
To his Excellency, David S. Reid :
It may appear paradoxical to maintain that a
planter may diminish his crops by the use of
fertilizers, still I shall altempttoshow that such
a result is possible. Theoretically and practi-cally
the doctrine is both inieresting and im-portant.
It is founded upon principles which 1
have had occasion to state while speaking of
manures and fertilizers. The doctrine alluded
to is based upon two facts, viz : That each plant
requires certain inorganic elements for its growth
and pe'fection of seed, and that the most im-portant
of these elements exist in the soil only
in smaller proportions. Now a plant, in certain
respects, is like an animal. If a young or an
old animal is supplied with a large quantity of
food its growth is promoted, or its fat accumu-lates.
This is the case if the food contains all
the elements of nutrition. It is not the case,
however, if one or more of them are wanting.
—
In the case ofayoung animal, for example, the
milk which is the natural food, contains in its
normal condition every element which the sys-tem
requires ; but if the milk should be deficient
in phosphate of lime or phosphoric acij, the
animal could not grow, or if it did grow by
means of a small amount of phosphoric acid Di-phosphate
of lime, the bones would be soft and
flexible. But this is not the point I am attempt-ing
to prove or elucidate, and the allusion is
made merely for the purpose of stating the fact,
that in the food of both animals and plants
there is a speciality which should he remember-ed
by all planters and stock growers. But plants
are unlike animals in certain respects ; their
mouths, for instance, are placed in a magazine
of food, but this magazine may contain a rich
supply of others; but enough of all the present
elements of nutrition and a very scanty supply
of others; but enough of all the present to en-sure
the growth of the plant and perfection of
the seed. If now the planter resorts to the use
of the mineral fertilizers, as plaster, the result
will be for the first two or three years a great-er
growth of herbage as well as a greater
increase of fruit or seed. If this magazine of
food (the soil) contains a small quantity only
of phosphate of lime, the employment of pias-ter
or sulphate of lime puts the plant in a con-dition
*o use and take up a larger amount of
phosphate of lime than it could, provided this
mineral had not been employed. If this mag-azine
contained phosphate of lime which would
have lasted ten years with no fertilizer, it will
not last more than five with it. By the use
of this fertilizer the root is increased in extent,
and, to speak figuratively, the number of mouths
formed to take up food is proportional'}' increas-ed
also, and hence, the store house is move rapid-ly
exhausted.
We have now ai rived at the point where we
can see the consequences which accrue from the
use of mineral fertilizers; the elements of food
which exist in small quantities ouly, become ex-hausted
in a short period under this system of
cultivation, and as every plant must have every-one
of the elements of nutrition for the perfec-tion
of seed, the time soon comes when seed
cannot be perfected for the want of one element.
The general effect of such a system of culture is
seen at onee, and yet the planter may persevere
in it, for he saw in the beginning most gratifying
results; his crops may be doubled, and in order
to keep up, and perhaps attempt to increase the
production still more, supplies his favorite fer-tilizer
in greater quantities, though he may have
seen after the second and third year that its em-ployment
did not turn out so favorably as at
Brit. This result may be attributed to the sea-on,
it was too wet or too dry, ton hot or too
:old. or to any cause but the right one. The
neighbors say he has killed his :-oil by the use
of plaster, but the true philo-ophy is, he has ex-hausted
prematurely and unnecessarily, one of
280 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
tli", essential elements of fertility. It is evident
enough he can no longer use plaster—lie must
find out what has become deficient in the
soil. There is no such thing as killing a soil or
mining it; it is a simple exhaustion of one or
two elements. What those lacking elements are
must be found out, and the remedy becomes a
simple, application or restoration of what has
been injudiciously removed. What is true of
gypsum is equally true of guano. The propor-tion
of inorganic matter in this vaiicty is much
smaller relatively than in the Mexican. It is
highly active upon worn out soils, producing
heavy crops of the cereals for the first year.
The continued use of this kiud of guano alone
for a succession of years brings about that con-dition
of the soil I have alluded to, or according
to the expressive phrase of planters, the soil is
killed. It may be inquired here, if these are the
results of plaster and Peruvian guano, what are
they good for ? I answer they are the prepar-atives
for a good system of husbandry, and are
designed to save time. They bring about in one
year what would require four or five by the or-dinary
means, as the use of green crops or even
stable manure. The soil is brought at once in
a condition to produce, but it is Hot by a re-ap-plication
of the same fertilizer, even guano.—
Now, the planter may use his straw, his clover
crop, or his stable manure to keep up the fertili-ty
of his soil, and why? It is because these
contain a greater variety or number of the ele-ments
of food which the plant requires. The
intelligent English farmer applies lime largely
at once; by this, he obtains a stock in trade to
go on—he borrows largely for once, and by it is
enabled, if he understands the principles of hus-bandry,
to pay back what he has borrowed.
—
But he would not think of paying back in lime
that would ruin him ; but he is now prepared for
the use of theslower or more organic and inorganic
fertilizers combined, and by their use he may go
on without killing his soil. So, guano is to be
used once to save time and prepare the way for
less active fertilizers. The vender of this article
will tell a different story, for it is a perishable ar-ticle
and must be sold the first season ; but the
intelligent farmer will fiud that he can go on
successfully by one application and save his fi-teen
dollars per ton for other purposes.
Most respectfully, yours, ike,
'
E. EMMONS,
Slate Geologist
From tlio Working Farmer.
Preservation of Fruits ami Vegetables for
Winter Usci
There are advantages derivable from scienti-fic
attainments which are sufficient to compen-sate
for the lime and attention bestowed in their
acquirement, e\en though pecuniary or material
gain be, literally, the only end for which they
are studied. It is certainly necessary for wryea
and daughters to cultivate an acquaintance with
the more poetical accomplishments which serve
to grace life, and render the condition of man
blessed, but while these are being done, there
are other duties which should not be left un-done.
The importance of learning some of the great
lessons taught in chemistry, and applying them
to domestic economy, is every day rendered
more apparant. So many of the normal condi-tions
of life are dependent on them, that their
deficiency is immediately perceived in any
household, by the incomplete development and
generally unhealthy aspect of its inmates. There
are many improvements in this way which
could be suggested, but the limits of this com-munication
forbids it now. There are many
simple works on such subjects which might be
studied with profit.
While we enjoy the present with its cornu-copian
supply of good things, we should cer-tainly
think of the approaching days of Old
Jack Frost, when nature dismantled of her ver-dure,
will quietly repose, tili again resuscitated
by the genial warmth of a succeeding spring.
How grateful then woull be the appearance on
our tables of some of those choice products of
the field of which we have now "enough and to
spare!" and yet, any household mother who
would take the trouble, could learn to preserve
them so as to be used at any future time.
It is a property of all organic substances to
fermeiit'or decompose when certain conditions
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 281
lich are essential to that process are present
e most important of these conditions are the
esence of heat, moisture, and atmospheric air.
h the absence of any of them fermentation
ould not proceed. If, for instance, one condi-
.ion, heat, be removed, by exposing the fermen-able
substance to an atmosphere, the tempera-ture
of which is not above the freezing point, it
would not decompose, that is, in the sense in
which the term is generally accep'ed. Still, in
a few instances, a species of decomposition does
really proceed.* Some fruits in such situations
will seem to preserve all their original qualities,
while they have indeed lost that which is most
prized, their favor.
Another process is that of drying at a high
temperature. Like that above, it has also ob-jectionable
points. In France and other con-tiguous
countries where it is most practiced, in
many instances, it answers well ; but when the
articles are taken to very moist countries, such
as on .the Isthmus of Panama, success is still
more limited, as our experience has proved.
By the total exclusion of the atmosphere
from contact with the substance, together with
another antiseptic condition about to be noted,
we know from observation, no impediment to
the substance be etfeotualiy preserved.
But even in this instance, we have been as-sured
by men, in whose judgment and experi-ence
we confide implicitly, that the qualities of
some Fruits and Vegetables are not without de-terioration.
The tendency of organic matter to decompo-sition
has been discovered to be temporarily
suspended by heating to the boiling point.
—
Every dairymaid is familiar with the fact, that
boiling milk daily, she can thereby preserve it
for any period. By taking advantage of this
circumstance, and also that of excluding atmos-pheric
air, any one can succeed in providing an
abundance of fruits and vegetables for winter
use.
For this purpose a boiler of adequate capaci-ty
is provided. The substance to be preserved
being prepared, are put up carefully in wide
mouth bottles, the interstices being filled by any
suitable liquor provided for the purpose, leav-ing
only sufficient space between the lip of the
bottle and its contents as will admit the cork.
It would be convenient to place in the boiler a
perforated false bottom or shelf, affording a level
surface on which the bottles could rest, and
thereby also obviating the necessity of their be-ing
in too much proximity to the more heated
surface of the true bottom. The bottles are then
put in along with cold water, which should be
within an inch and a half of covering them.
—
They are then removed one at a time, corked
perfectly air tight, aud tied or wired down ; af-ter
which they may be entirely immersed. The
boiling is then continued until they are heated
to the temperature of 212 degrees throughout,
which generally effected in about three hours.
The bottles are then removed and sealed down, so
as to be rendered more perfectly air-tight. They
should not be introduced while cold into boil-ing
water, as the consequent sudden expansion
of the glass would cause them to break. Ano-ther
precaution is further necessary : vegetable
color is soon decomposed by light, to provide
against which, the bottles should be wrapped in
dark paper or packed away in boxes. By this
process any one would be provided with the
luxuries of summer all the year, and without
any appreciable additional outlay.
Let however the experiment be tried, observ-ing
directions, which are doubtless simple and
easily understood, and let further practice de-pend
on the success of the undertaking.
R C.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE CHIEF CROPS
OF THE SOUTH !
Corn and cotton in the cotton planting States
have, by common custom, become the universal
crops of extensive cultivation. How far this
shift is correct, is not entirely proved by its uni-versality,
nor by the prejudices which sustain it
in the minds of planters, Indian corn, indigen-ous
to the soil, was perhaps the most convenient
and profitable when the country was first settled,
and when an abundant and easily prepared crop,
to supply the wants of both man and beast, was
a requirement of the times. In this relative
value, it still is the most valuable cropi grown on
282 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
the virgin soils of the Middle and Southern of
the Western States, for it luxuriates upon the
Vegetable matter abounding in new soil, and
with little preparation and indifferent culture,
yields large returns for labor hes. owed. Such
however, is not the case in the older States,
where the cream of the land has been sto'en
away imperceptibly by the most exhausting
system to which tilled soil has ever been sub-jected
; and taking ten years' cropping together.
the Indian corn crop is the most uncertain we
can plant. It is difficult to grow en any but
vi.ifin or alluvial soil, and droughts of summer
except in extraordinary and most favorable sea-sons
cut it off to ruinous extent. The corn crib
is cal'ed the store house of the planter in the
South, and indeed it is his main dependence.
—
But this is only because he is not accustomed to
interweave other crops with the cultivation of
cotton. On improved and well prepared soil
barley and wheat would yield more bushels of
grain of more value to the planter than Indian
com. In fact, barley is the most valuable grain
which we cultivate at the South. If sown at
the proper season, it readily perfccls itself from
the winter moisture in the earth, and yields
heavily. It is fine soiling for all kinds of stock,
and comes into harvest in May, a time when a
few days can be spared from the cotton crop
without detriment to its growth or production.
Its grain is so well protected, that it is not liable
to be spoilt by exposure to the weather, and it
may lie any length of time in the straw, when
dryly housed, without being injured. A barley
crop sown with guano, cotton seed, or well pre-pared
compost manure, after the cotton crop is
gathered in December and January, would come
off sufficiently early to sow the stubble down in
pc s lo be turned under in autumn, and the ro-tation
of small grain with this system pursued,
would be the best and most efficient mode of im-proving
our lands. It would also be fitted to
the economical and ea*y cultivation of the after
cotton crop, by the plowing under of the her.
bage in the fall, which would be thoroughly de-composed
by the next spring.
Barley, gound aid mixed w'th straw, reduc-ed
to chaff by a cutting machine, is better food
for horses and cattle than any preparation of 'n-dian
corn, and to those persons who have lot
mills, simply soaking the grain in water is afne
preparation for foeding to horses. Swine fatfcn
and keep in condition more easily on barliy
than on corn. As a conclusive argument in is
favor, more barley can be cheaply grown on ai
acre of improved dry upland, than we can grov
of corn. Wheat, sown with guana in like man-ner
after the cotton crop, would come in at t
season when the harvesting could be attended to
without detriment, and after the cotton crop is
laid by, and in the interval between that time
and the commencement of picking, the thresh-ing
and preparing it for market or the mill
could be attended to without hindrance. The
middlings, shorts and bran of a large wheat crop
all mixed together, would go far to feed the
plantation stock, and negroes would relish wheat-en
bread as a change for the corn bread usually
allowed to them.
We would, from these few reasons stated, and
many more needless to mention, recommend the
reduction of the corn crop to such a degree as
would throw all lands not naturally producing
Indian corn well, into wheat, barley, rye and oats.
We cou d then cultivate our titled crops well
and easily, and the avenues for system Would
open for improvement would soon repay for the
experiment. We know that these recommenda-tions
will be met by all the objections which
prejudice and the tyranny of custom engender
in those who cleave to old practices and theo-ries,
but as they are convictions of true policy,
we have no hesitation in making them.
—
South-ern
Agriculturist.
"FINK PROSPECT FOR HAY."
While riding by a field the other day which
looked as rich and green as a New England
meadow, we observed to a man sitting o i the
fe ice. "Yon have a tine prospect for hay, neigh-bor."
"Hay ! that's cotton, sir," said he with
an emotion that betrayed an excitement which
we cared to ptov. ke no further; for we had as
soon spoit with a rattles .ake in the blind days
of August, as a farmer, at this season of the
year, badly in the grass. We return er on«
TIIE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 283
to lave witnessed almost a fight between a cou-plrfof
neighbors on this vitally delicate matter.
Neighbor U happening to be a little ahead
in/his onslaught upon Gen. Greene, came pass-ong
by the field of neighbor D and
'scovered him digging far below the level of
e rich green sward that waved around, when
ailed out in a loud tone, Hallo! The
/nan in the field raised himself slowly, and think-ug
he was called to the fence on a matter of
special and important business, with a face arti-ficially
pleasant, started, when II remarked
with a smile of wicked fun, "please don't let the
snakes bite me." The momentary gleam which
enlivened I) 's face was followed by 9 thun-der
cloud of looks, and nothing but the advan-tage
of distance saved II from a hoe helve
examination ofliis cranium; for the muttering
echoes of poor I) 's voice came rolling over,
mixed with profane accents, and diabolical
insinuations. H- vamosed, declaring it w; s
the last lime that he would ever joke a man
hopelessly struggling with the grass. In this
latitude, just now, poking sticks at a yellow
jacket's nest would be as refreshing.
All jesting aside, we have never known so
poor a prospect for cotton in this region. In
some instances the fields are clean and well
worked, but the cotlon is diminutive in size, and
sickly in appearance. We have seen some fields
so foul, that it was almost impossible to tell
what had been planted. In our limited obser-vations,
we arc convinced that the best looking
cotton, is on new ground. Cotton blooms are
generally common with us about 1st of July,
but we have seen no stalk as yet, that can make
a flower by that time ; unless like Jonas' gourd,
it can run up in a few nights.
All this backwardness is attributable to the
cold, wet weather that we have had almost con-stantly
since the planting season commenced.
—
When there was a warm spell, it was raining so
that plows could not run to say advantage ; so,
between the cold and the rain, the cotton crop
is very unpromising.
Corn is generally good ; Oats remarkably
fine; Wheat (which has been harvested) "sor-ry."
The low flat lands, this year, have suffer, d
particularly. Thoroughly saturated all the
time, and often overflowed, the crops on ilu-in
are small and sickly, while the weeds and crass
are luxuriant and rank.
A week or two of dry hot weather will make
a wonderlul change in our agricultural prospects,
but we have no idea that any sort of seasons
could bring the cotton to more than an average
crop.
—
Hernando (Alias.) Advance.
Apples as Food for Stock.
In some sections of the country the apple crop
may make up for the deficiency in com and po-tatoes.
Apples are plentiful and of uncommon
fairness. Good varieties, of long-keeping quali-ties,
will bring the producer remunerating pri-ces.
But in some instances autumn fruit may
be so abundant as to make it expedient to feed
:t to live stock on the farm, rather than to dis-pose
of it in market at very low rates. And in
all cases there wiil be more or less—as windfalls,
or such as from defects are unsaleable—uh'ch
may be fed to animals with advantage. Cider
being now ignored to a great degree, the use of
apples for making meat may be expected to
increase.
As swine-food, apples have long been known
to possss considerable value, though sweet ones
have been chiefly preferred for this purpcse.
But this preference appears to have been given
without sufficient grounds. When swine are
fed with apples in a raw state, they will gene-rally
indicate their choice of sweet over sour
ones by first eating the former. This will be
more particularly the case if the apples are in
an unripe state, and the sour ones very sour.
—
But if swine running in the orchard are allow-ed
to select themselves, they will always eat
ripe apples in preference to unripe, and will not
coufine their eating to sweet varieties, provided
good ones of a sub-acid flavor can be obtained.
But in regard to the relative value of sweet
and sour apples, in a similar state of ripeness, we
are not without results of a positive character.
A very observing and careful ffirij or, the late
Payne Wingate, of Hallovvell, Maine, made
some valuable experiments on tLe subject.
284 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
He found that when swine were fed willi raw
apples, sweet ones were best, the animal's teeth
appearing to be made sore by the acid ones;
but when both were cooked there was no differ-ence
in the gain, as ascertained by weighing the
pigs produced by an equal quantity of each.
—
Mr. W. also made experimeu's to show the val-ue
of apples as compared with potatoes. The
apples and potatoes were boiled (in as little wa-ter
as practicable) separately, and about four
quarts of oat and pea meal mixed with each
bushel, at the time the cooking was finished, the
meal being partially cooked by stirring it in with
the potatoes and apples while they were hot,
and the mass left to ferment, slightly, before it
was fed out. Two pigs of the same litter, and
nearly of the same weight, were fed for a week,
one on a given quantity of the apples and meal,
and the other on the same quantity of potatoes
and meal. At the end of the week the pigs
were weighed, and the food was reversed, the
pig which had been fed with apples was fed for
a week on potatoes, and vice versa. Their food
was changed in this manner for several weeks,
each pig being weighed at the week's end. The
result showed that the apples were fully equal
or somewhat superior to the potatoes.
Okra fob Printing Paper.—The Baltimore
Ledger of a late date, has the following: The
growing demand for printing paper, and the pre-sent
high prices of the article, rendered it neces-sary
that some new material should be brought
into use, which from its abundance and cheap-ness
may recommend it to the favor of the man-ufacturer.
To this end, every experiment should
be tried that they may lead to the discovery of
the article so much desired. In the Southern
and Western States, south of the thirtieth degree
of latitude, a garden plant is grown from which
printing paper may be manufactured in greater
quantities and of a finer quality than is made
from all the materials now used in the manu-facture
of that article. The value of this mate-rial
as a substitute for hemp has already been
tested, with results highly satisfactory.
The plant flourishes best in damp soils and a
humid atraosphere. Under the most advanta-geous
circumstances it grows from six to tn feet
in height, and will yield several tons to th acre.
The stem, like hemp, requires to be strippi of
its bark, leaving a core of a beautiful whitqiess,
with a fibre of the full length of the plant,very
strong and pliable. Experiments on a linited
scale have recently been made with it, in the
manufacture of a cloth used for bagging, vita
very favorable results. In texture it bears scne
resemblance to Manilla, though is not so harh
and is more readily converted into pulp. It m.y
be sown broadcast, requires no cultivation, ripen
in a few months and gives an immense yield.—
The process of stripping it of its bark is simpb
and expeditious, and may be performed bv tl»
ordinary mode of threshing.
The plant referred to, (says the New Orlear*
Bulletin,) is the common Okra of the SouiL
which can be grown in inexhaustible quantitet
We have seen specimens of hemp manufacture!
from it, as well as small quantities of the dresi-ed
fibre. WT
hat we saw was long, white anl
strong, and seemed well calculated to make e -
cellent rope. We do not see why it will o>t
make good paper. Will not some enterprisitg
individual try the experiment ? It is certaiuV
worth the trial.
Bush your Tomatoes.—It is just as sensite
(P grow pens without hushing them, as it is t>-
matos. You may grow both in a slovenly sot
of a way, if you have plenty of room on te
ground ; but you can grow either twice as will
upon something to support them, and lomajs
are decidedly better grown up in the air thn
near the ground, under the shade of a massof
vines. The best support for a tomato vine iia
short bush set firmly in the ground. Te
branches have room to spiead among and su-port
the fruit. The plan is much better thn
tying to stakes and trimming, according to or
experience. We have tried both ways. Te
ave ever3r season, for the last four or five yeas
offered this advice to all growers of this valu-ble.
Bushing will increase the product neaiy
one half— will give larger fruit, and it will kep
sound much longer on the vines.
—
Oermanlo>n
Telegraph.
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 273
should be grown. In order that tiie next year's
corn, or otlier lioed crop may derive the greater
advantage from the pea crop, it would be best to
apply lime, or ashes, to the green crop before
turning it under, which would greatly tend to
hasten decomposition. Besides being a very
useful crop as a fertilizer, the pea should be used
as an important crop for stock. When used for
this purpose it had better be sown with the
corn crop. Hogs are the kin J of stock which
profit most from the use of the pea, it being the
fact that may farmers depend almost solely up-on
the cultivation of the pea for the raising of
their poik. There is much less injury done to
the land where hogs are allowed lo run upon a
pea crop than any other kind of stock, for the
reason that they are not apt to eat the vine like
cattle and horses. Where the land is so low as
to require ditching, and hogs are allowed to run
upon it they will to some extent fill up the
ditches and injure the field, but not to such an
extent as to counterbalance the advantage to the
hogs from the eating of the peas. Many farm-ers
coutend that it will pay well to cultivate the
pea as food for stock even though they are ga-thered
by hand and cooked and fed to them in
cose pens. This, no doubt, is true, provided
the proper attention is paid to the collection of
materials to use in the peu for making manure.
We are firmly of the opinion that the pea crop
is of the greatest importance to the Southern
planter, and should be extensively cultivated
both with a view to the improvement of the soil
as well as for food for stock. It has been truly
said that it is the clover of the South, and it
should be so considered. There is no part of
our Slate that the pea crop may not be success-fully
cultivated even from the mountains, to the
sea-hoard, and all that is wanting to make it a
Universal crop in our State, is to do away with
some unreasonable prejudices in regard to it.
DRAINAGE OF LANDS, &c.
It has occurred to us that there is no better
and quicker way of increasing the individual as
well as national wealth of our State, than by
establishing a system under the management of
our State government for the draining of lands
belonging to individuals, If not at present, the
time is close at hand when North Carolina will
and must become a real agricultural country, and
in as much as this is the case, it is highly impor-tant
that every means possible be used to elevate
and improve the farming interest. It is a well
known fact that a very large number of the far-mers
of our State are, and have been cultivating
lands, which they know are not sufficiently
drained in order that they may produce such
crops as they would produce, if such draiuage
was effected as may be needed. This being the
fact, it will be readily seen that a certain portion
of the labor of the farmer every year is /ost on
this account, lo say nothing of the prominent
injury done the land. What we propose, is that
any farmer who may wish his land more tho-loughly
drained than it is at present, and who
does not feel able to lay out the money necessa-ry
to do it himself, be allowed upon these condi-tions
to have his land drained by Ob State. The
plan by which this is to be done, ts one which
cannot injure the Stale at all, but will, in buu-dr"
ds of instances enable the poor man who has a
large body of good land to drain it, which at
present is worthless, thuugh if drained, would be
highly valuable. The plan for the drainage of
lauds by the State, we propose to be something
like this : Where a man wishes his land drained,
let him make application to the commissioners
on drainage in each county, who shall be ap-pointed
by the State, (say three or more) and
let them determine what will be the cost of the
drainage of the man's farm, and, if after their
determination the owner of the land agrees, let
this land be mortgaged to the State for the
amount required to drain it, and that the owner
of the land be required to pay annually so much
of the principal, and the interest from the in-creased
product of his farm resulting from the
draining of the land. In this way the individu-al
wealth of the State would be givatly increas-ed,
which of course, would increase taxation
upon the value of the land, greatly add to the
revenue of the State. There would, in this plan,
be no possible loss to the State, but only aiding
a citizen by becoming security, at the same lime
taking a mortgage upon the property sufficient
2 74 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
to cover all losses. Why may not such a bill
be introduced before the next Legislature ? If it
were, it surely would not fail to pass, and in a
short time the people of the State would be
struck with the efficacy of the plan. Thorough
drainage of land is the basis of agricultural im-provement,
and if this plan were adopted, there
are thousands of acres of land which at present
are valueless, which would then be drained.
prof7emmons; letter.
We call the particular attention of our read-ers
to the letter of Prof. Emmons to Gov. Reid;
published in this number of our paper. Those
who have, read the Farmer's Journal attentively
will recollect that we have some lime since ad-vanced
the same opinion with regard to guano
as Dr. Emmons does in this letter. We have
ever been of the opinion that it should be used
rather as a basis of improvement or as Dr. E.>
says as prepsshtive for the use of other manures,
such as the Tarmer can procure upon the farm.
Tais opinion of Dr. Emmons, based upon such
plain reasoning will surely cause the farmers of
the State to purchase less guano, and turn their
attention to the raising of more manure upon
the farm. The very same opinion which was
derived from experience, was by dm. Jones, in
regard to guano, in his essay read before the
Maryland Agricultural Society. He said that
where it was used actively for a succession of
years, it caused the soil to become close and dead)
to use a common terra. We think that farmers
would find it to their advantage to use guano
more in the comp >st heap, especially the Peruvi-an
guano, and also to use the Mexican and Pe-ruvian
in combination with each other, a plan
which we have also suggested before. It is high"
ly important, that farmers should apply larger
quantities of manure to smaller quantities of
land by which means they will have much move
time to make manure, for the reason that they
make a large product upon a smad tract of land
allowing so much more time to attend to collect-ing
mateiials for the barn yard, and other places
for making compost.
Paters which fail to reach Subscribehs,
We, as well as other editors, sometimes receive
letters from persons stating that they have sub-scribed
for the " Fanner's Journal," and have
not received it, and wish to know if we are re-solved
to cheat them out of their money. Now
any reasonable man, if he will think for a mo-ment,
he must see at once that it is greatly to
the interest of every publisher of a newspaper,
that every subscriber should be supplied. So
that when a subscriber hereafter (ails to get our
paper we beg them to attribute the fault where
it lies, at the doors of our Post masters, we do
uot mean all.
The Cover ox ouii Paper.-—We have abol-ished
the cover on the Farmer's Journal, which
costs us a great deal, as it has been suggested
by many subscribers that it would look better
without it. We hope that as we are resolved
to improve the reading matter of our paper that
this alteration will make no difference with our
subscribers.
% €. itnte %irnltornl Mfy
PROCEEDINGS
Of the North Carolina State Agricultural So-ciety,
at the Second Annual Meeting, held in
Raleigh, October ldth, 1854.
The North Carolina State Agricultural Socie-ty
met in the Commons Hall, in the Capitol, on
Monday evening the 16th of October, 1854, pur-suant
to adjournment, the President, R. H.
Smith, Esq., in the Chair. The proceedings of
the last annual meeting were read by the Secre-tary,
after which Dr. Tompkins, moved that those
persons present who are not members of the So-ciety
be allowed to come forward and join.
Dr. E. A. Crudup moved that the President
appoint a committee of five for the purpose of
revising the constitution and bye-laws of the
Society, which being adopted, the President ap-p.
inted the following gentleman': Dr. E. A.
Crudup, J. II. [laugh ton^ J. S. Daney, Dr. W.
R Holt and Dr. J. F. Tompkins.
There being no further business before the
Society; S. W. Whiting, Esq., moved an ad-journment
until 7 12 o'clock, P. M , on Tues-
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 275
day evening tlic 17th instant, which was unani-mously
carried.
Tuesday Evening, Oct. IV.
The N. C. State Agricultural Society met in
the Commons Hall according to previous ad-journment,
the President R. H. Smith, Esq., in
the Chair. The proceedings of the last meet-ing
were read.
The Caswell county Agricultural Society,
through Col. E. P. Jones, presented a memorial
asking the State Agricultural Society to post-pone
the holding of the annual Fairs, which
was on motion referred to the committee to re-vise
the constitution and by-laws of the society.
Henry Elliot, E-q., moved that a committee
of five be appointed to prepare a memorial and
resolutions to lay before the next Legislature
upon the subject of dogs, and report at the meet-ing
of the Society on Thursday evening, which
was carried, and the following gentlemen ap-pointed
for this purpose : Henry Elliot, Hon.
Thomas Ruffin, Hon. K. ESy.ner, Dr. Win. R.
Holt and R. H. Burgwin.
There being no farther business before the
Society, it was moved and seconded that the
Society adjourn until Wednesday evening the
18th insfe to meet in the Commons Hall at 7
1-2 o'clock, P. M.
Wednesday Evening, Oct. 18th.
The N. C. State Agricultural Society met in
the Commons Hall half after seven o'clock, P.
M., according to adjournment ; the President,
R. Smith, E-q, in the chair. The proceedings
of the preeeeding meeting were read and ap-proved.
The election of officers being the first busi-ness
in order, the following gentlemen were
nominated and unanimously elected :
Hon. THOMAS RUFFIN, of Alamance,
President; Hon. A. W. Venable, first Vice
Bhsiderit; Doet. Wm. R. Holt, second" Vice
President ; Doct. E. A. Crudup, third Vice Pres-ident
; R. R. Bridget's, fourth Vice President;
Doct. J. F. Tompkins, Recording Secretary ; T.
J. Lemay, Corresponding Secretary, J. F. Hutch-ins
Treasurer.
Mr. Branch moved that a committee of two
be appointed by the chair to inform the Hon.
Thomas Ruffin of his election to the office of
President of the Society and solicit his accep-tance
of the same. The chair appointed L. 0.
I!. Branch and Major Charles L. Hinton to dis-charge
the duties of said committee.
J. S. Bridgers, Esq., moved that those persons
present as delegates from 'other Agricultural So-cieties
be invited to take seats with the mem-bers
of the Society, and participate in its pro-ceedings,
which was carried.
Dr. E. A. Crudup moved that the committee
on the revision of the constitution be instructed
to inquire into and report upon the propriety of
establishing life membership in the Society and
upon what terms, which was carried.
W. II. Jones moved that a committee of two
be appointed to examine and report on to-mor-row
evening upon the accounts of the Treasur-er
of the Society, which was carried, and W. H.
Jones, and F. C. Hill were appointed.
There being no further business before the
Society, it was moved that the views of mem-bers
of the Society upon practical agriculture be
given, which was sanctioned, and R. R Bridgers,
H. Elliot, Judge Ruffin, R. H. Smith, H. R.
Burgwin, J. S. Dancy, Dr. E. A Crudup and
the Hon. A. W. Venable, made some very ap-propriate
and highly interesting remarks, which
were received with much satisfaction by the So-ciety.
There being nothing further before the Socie-ty
it was moved and seconded that the Society-adjourn
until Thursday evening the 3 0th inst,
at 7 Ii2 o'clock, p. m., which was carried.
Thursday Evening, Oct. 19.
The N. C. State Agricultural Society met ac-cording
to previous adjournment in the Com-mons
Hall at 7 1-2 o'clock, p. m., the Piesiden*
R. II. Smith, Esq., in the chair.
Tin- proceedings the of la^t meeting were, read
and approved.
The committee to whom was referred the '""e-morial
and resolutions to the LogislaUire upon
the subject of dogs, submitleJ through their
276 THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
chairman, the lion. TIios. Ruffin, of Alamance
county, the following report:*
Major Wm. A. Eaton, moved that the roport
of the committee on dogs be adopted, which
was carried.
Dr. Win. R. Holt moved that two hundred
copies of the memorial to the Legislature ho
printed and sent to the members previous to the
meeting of the Legislature, which was adopted.
Henry Elliott moved that J. H. Haughton,
Hon. K. Rayner, W. W. Whilaker and R. H.
Smith, be appointed a committee to present the
above memorial to the Legislature, which was
carried.
The President, upon motion, appointed the
following delegates to attend the Fairs at Peters-buig,
Norfolk and Richmond.
Delegates to the Petersburg Fair are, C. L.
Hinton, Esq., Dr. R. C. Pritehard, W. A. Eaton,
Jere. Nixon, and Dr. L. W. Batehelor.
Delegates to the Norfolk Fair are, R. A. Hamil-ton,
Lewis Thompson, W. S. Hill, J. S. Dancy,
and G. W. Collier. E. H. Smith was added to
the list of delegates.
Delegates to the Richmond Fair are, Hon.
Thomas Ruffin, Hon. K. Rayner, J. S. Bridgers,
H. Elliott and H. K. Burgwin.
On motion the President appointed the fol-lowing
committees for the next year.
Committee on Reception, L. O'B. Branch, G.
W. Morel ecui and the Hon. K. Rayner.
Committee to invite a speaker to deliver the
next annual address before the Society, R. A.
Hamilton, R. R, Bridgers, and Dr. R. U. Priteh-ard.
The coinmitte to confer with other agricultu-ral
societies as to the best time of holding the
annual Fairs in the future, are, II. K. Burgwin,
and J. S. Bridgers.
The committee appointed to examine accounts
of the Treasurer, J. F. Hutchins, Esq., reported
through their chairman, S. W. Whiting, that
his accounts were all correct and that there is at
his time in the treasury, $4,3S6 40 subject to
the order of the Society. .
* The report being before the Legislature it could not
be obtained for publication.
There being nothing further before the Socie-ty,
it was moved and seconded that lite Society
adjourn to meet on Friday evening the 20th of
October, at V 1-2 oclock, P. M.
Friday Evening, Oct. 20th.
The North Carolina State Agricultural Socie-ty
met according to adjournment, in the Com-mons
Hall, the President, R. H. Smith, Esq., in
the chair. The proceedings of the preceding
meeting were read aud approved.
The President appointed the following com-mittees
:
The Executive Committee, Dr. E. A. Crudup,
Wm. A. Eaton, W. W. Whitaker, J. F. Taylor,
J. C. McRae, Wm. R. Pool, S. W. Whiting, W.
1). Cooke, R. A. Hamilton, D. MeDaniel, W. H.
Jones, Needham Price, J. F. Jordan and J. C.
Partridge.
Committee of Arrangements, Dr. E. A. Cru-up,
chairmain, W. A. Eaton, W. W. Whitaker,
Wm. R. Pool, Needham Price, S. W. Whiting
W. II. Jones, J. F. Jordan, J. C. McRae, and
J. F. Taylor.
Gen. J. B. Littlejobn, Chief Marshal.
S. Hayes, 1st Assistant,
Col. II. J. B. Clark, 2d
J. Averitt, Jr., 3d "
Col. II. T. Clark, 4th "
J. H. Yarborough, 5th "
Mr. Collins moved that the Sccreiary send a
copy of Mr. Rayiier's address to each member
of the Society, which was carried.
On motion, the President appointed the fol-lowing
gentlemen to attend as delegates the
next annual meeting of the United States Agri-cultural
Society in Washington city : Hon,
Thomas Ruffin, Hon. K. Rayner, II. K. Burgwin,
Lewis Thompson—aud on motion of Col. Clark,
of Warreu, the name of the President of the
Society was added to the list.
\\.- D. Cooke moved that the thanks of the
Society be tendered to Jno. Hutchins, Esq., for
the zeal and ability manifested by him in the
superintendance of the buildings upon the Fair
Grounds, which motion was unanimously car-ried.
Jere. Nixon moved that the sum of one hun-
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL. 285
Preserving Bacon from the Fly.—I am
induced by motives which every housekeeper
• will appreciate, to commii'iieate through your
valuable journal the following effectual and sim-ple
method of preserving bacon from injury by
the fly or skipper.
When your bacon is smoked early in the
spring before the fly has made its appearance,
take quick lime slaked to a dry powder, and rub
the meat thoroughly on every part with it, leav-ing
it to adhere as much as possible; hang up
your meat, and rest secure from any trouble
from insects.
I have tried the above method (communicated
to me by an experienced housekeeper) and so
well satisfied am I with the experiment, that I
consider it of sufficient importance to be made
public. I have tried many other means for pre-serving
meat from the fly, but this is the only
certain remedy I have ever yet found.
Very truly yours,
AUG. SHRIVEN,
in American Farmer-
Sore Backs.—A correspondent at a distance
writes as follows, which may prove serviceable
to some of our readers :—" If your horse is
troubled with a sore or galled back, rub with
lead, softened to a paste with linseed oil, on the
injured part, till the sore is completely covered.
Some recommend for this purpose a solution of
vitriol in water ; but the former remedy is far
preferable, and, on the whole, more certain to
effect a cure. I have known ba ' galls entirely
healed and cured by it in a few days. Wounds
on any part of the animal, if not deep and of a
serious character, are greatly eased and disposed
to heal rapidly by this application. Try it."
—
Germantown Telegraph.
How to get Rid of Rats.—Professor Bas-com,
of Oberlin, in a letter to the Ohio Farmer,
says:—"The large brown rat often visits my
laboratory and other premises. As they come
singly, I take off each,' the night after I discover
signs of his presence, in this wise :—I take half a
teaspoonful of dry flour or Indian meal on a
plate or piece of board, and sprinkle over it the
fraction of a grain of strychnine. This is set in
a convenient place, and I invariably find the
culprit near the spot dead in the morning. The
peculiar advantage of this poison is, it produces
muscular spasms, which prevent the animal
from reaching his hole to lie and decompose. It
is needless to add that such a violent poison
should be used with care."
Cabbage Worms.—John Farrar, one of the
most practical farmers in the State, says these
destructive insects may be destroyed in the fol-lowing
easy and simple way :
" Break off a large leaf from the bottom of
the cabbage, and place on the top upper side
down. Do this in the evening and in the morn-ing
you will find near or quite all the worms on
each cabbage have taken up their quarters on
this leaf. Take off the leaf and kill them, or
feed them to the chickens, and place the leap
back if there be any more to catch.
Pickles.—An excellent way to make pickles
that will keep a year or more is—drop them
into boiling hot water, but not boil them ; let
them stay ten minutes, wipe them dry, and drop
into cold spiced vinegar, and they will not need
to be put into salt and water. The above is my
•wife's rule, which she has proved to be a good
one.
Cement to Resist Fire and Water.—Half
a pint of new milk, and half a pint of good vine-gar.
Stir them together until the milk coagu-lates
; remove the curd, and mix with the whey
the whites of five eggs, well beaten up ; when
these are well mixed, add sifted quick-lime, un-til
the whole is about as thick as putty. If this
mixture be fully applied and properly dried, it
will firmly join what is broken, or fill up cracks
of any kind, and will resist fire and water.
To Keep Corn.—The only way to keep
sweet corn of any variety for winter use, is to
partially cook and then dry it ; or put it in a
close jar, or other tight vessel. Corn nicelv
kept in this way, is very good, as we had abund
anlly tested, years before the Stowell corn was
ever heard of.
THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
About Fences.— In reply to an inquiry of a
correspondent, the editor of the Massachusetts
Ploughman gives the following interesting facts :
Boards will last a long while when well support-ed
by posts. See the boards of eighty years on
old barns and out-buildings. Posts last a vast
deal longer in wet soils than in dry, sandy
loams—longer in clay than in the richest soil.
In peat meadows the bottoms of posts hold out
longer than the tops and rails. On dry soils
posts should be charred, and if the owner would
be at the trouble of placing a few ashes around
each post, he would preserve them twice as long-as
without ashes. Lime also is good to preserve
wood, though farmers sometimes use it to hasten
the rotting of c impost heaps.
To Farmers.—The Hartford Times, mentions
a farmer who took up a fence alter it had been
standing fourteen years, and found some of the
posts nearly sound and others rotted off at the
bottom. Looking for the cause, he discovered
that the posts which had been inverted from the
way they grew, were solid, and those which had
been set as they grew rotted off. This is cer-tainly
an incident worthy of being noted by our
farmers.
The Butterfly Plant.—The National In-telligencer
says that a specimen of the singular
and beautiful Butterfly Plant is now in bloom
at the National Green-house in Washington,
District of Columbia. The blossoms are very
large and yellow, with reddish brown spots, and
are niDved to and fro with every breath of air,
so as to resemble very much the gaudy insect
from which it derives its name. The plant was
brought from the Island of St. Thomas in the
United States frigate Raiitan.
Moth in Wool. —A recent writer in the
English Agricultural Journal recommends the
vapor of spirits of turpentine a< a remedy for
moth in wool. The turpentine should not be
placed upon the wool, but left in open dishes in
same apartment.
Foot Rot in Sheep.—The application of
double distilled vinegar and sublimate of mer-cury,
is said to act as remedy for foot rot in
sheep.
NORTH CAROLINA INSTITUTION FOR THE
Deaf and Dumb and the Blind.—The Sessions of
this Institution will hereafter commence on the First (iaj -.
of September of each year, and continue ten months.
This change has been made in order to bring the va
tions into the months ol July and August, which,
account ol the heat of that season, are less adapted to
study than the other months. It also brings t]ie Q
mencement oi the School to the season when the ShBl
oi the different counties are coming in to make theU
returns, thus affording a good opportunity lor parent* U)
send their children.
The following are the Officers